Police say bad heroin has led to 5 Akron-area deaths

6/19/2014

AKRON, Ohio  — Authorities in Akron say five people have died and several others have overdosed recently, likely from a “bad batch” of heroin going around the region.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that two men were found dead from overdoses this week in Akron, and at least three other heroin-related deaths have been reported in the past two weeks in the city.

Police issued a warning Wednesday, telling “illicit drug users not to take heroin which they procured over the past few weeks.”

Police Lt. Rick Edwards says detectives aren’t sure what’s causing the recent rash of heroin-related deaths. They speculate a deadly ingredient was added, or that the heroin is nearly pure and extremely potent.

Ohio and the nation have been grappling with what’s being called a heroin epidemic.