LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville police say they have seen a spike in the number of overdose calls they’ve responded to this month.
The Courier-Journal reports (http://cjky.it/21sSH0H) Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad says they believe heroin is being mixed with other drugs, causing people to overdose.
Jefferson County Coroner Dr. Barbara Weakley-Jones says the city is seeing an increase in overdoses involving prescription drugs, such as potent pain medication fentanyl and anticonvulsant gabapentin.
Conrad says the heroin is being cut with these other drugs while maintaining potency.
On Monday, he shared information from the coroner about the overdoses and a drug police are using to counter overdoses. In February, officers gave a potentially life-saving dose of heroin antidote naloxone 26 times to those overdosing. This month’s total has jumped to 43 so far.