Spike in Heroin Deaths (Video)

UPDATED
Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department’s Major Crimes Division and the Special Investigations Division are investigating a recent spike in heroin overdose deaths that have occurred in the county.

County Cable Montgomery’s Susan Kenedy has more in this report first broadcast on County Report this Week.

At least seven overdose deaths have been directly attributed to heroin since March of this year. Six of the seven deaths have occurred since the beginning of June.These seven deaths equal the total number of heroin overdose deaths that occurred in the county in all of 2010, 2011, and 2012 combined. A review of the deaths that occurred this year showed that the victims ranged in age from 19 to 45 years old. The deaths have occurred all over the county and were not clustered in any particular area.

“The dangers of using illegal drugs are always present but this recent spike in deaths attributed to heroin is particularly alarming,” said Captain Marcus Jones, Director of the Major Crimes Division. Detectives investigating these deaths are working closely with narcotics detectives on these cases.

Seizures of heroin have also increased in the county according to Captain Nancy Demme, Director of the Special Investigations Division which includes the department’s narcotics detectives. Other area jurisdictions are also seeing an increase in heroin activity. “We are sharing information with other jurisdictions on these cases. This is not a problem that is confined to Montgomery County.” said Captain Demme.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to contact the Special Investigations Division at 240.773.5959.

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