New Haven Issues Emergency Public Health Warning After Heroin Overdoses

Officials in New Haven on Friday were set to address a public health emergency declaration brought on by a rash of heroin overdoses in the city beginning Thursday.

New Haven police said emergency responders saw at least 15 overdoses since Thursday afternoon, and possibly up to 22. At least two people have died.

The city is warning residents that there is a batch of tainted, life-threatening heroin on the streets.

Fire and EMS crews are being given an extra supply of Narcan (Naloxone) to combat the emergency.  Rick Fontana of the New Haven Emergency Operations Center says the city is running critically low on the life-saving drug.

Fire officials say the Investigative Service Unit is investigating and the Drug Enforcement Administration has been contacted for assistance.

Heroin use is a nationwide epidemic. The CDC reports that between 2002 and 2014 the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths more than quadrupled and more than 10,500 died nationwide in 2014.

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