The Heroin Overdoses in Western Pennsylvania Have Reached Epidemic Proportions

At least 22 people have died in the past several weeks of a fatal combination of heroin mixed with Fentanyl.  The deaths are happening in Western Pennsylvania and authorities believe the deaths are coming from heroin called “Theraflu,” Bud Ice,” or “Income Tax.”

The death of Hollywood actor Philip Seymour Hoffman on February 2^nd has brought new found attention to heroin and all the fatal overdoses the drug has recently caused in Western Pennsylvania. Heroin use is cyclical and the most recent surge in abuse has been fueled by the rise in prescription drug abuse.  The deaths from heroin overdose have quadrupled since 1999 according to a report released by the Trust for America’s Health.

Researchers state painkillers like Percocet and OxyContin often prescribed legally by doctors are behind the latest heroin epidemic.  People become hooked on prescription drugs and switch over to heroin because it is easier to find and much cheaper than abusing prescription medications.

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R. Bucks) is sponsoring a bill which would expand Pennsylvania’s prescription drug database.  He stated his bill, a version which passed the House late last year, would open up the prescription drug database to pharmacists and doctors so they could determine who is doctor shopping and who has a genuine need for painkiller medications.

A second bill, a version of the one which passed the Senate in December 2013, would expand the states Good Samaritan law.  The law would make it legal for someone to seek medical attention for someone who is experiencing a drug overdose; the current law only applies to cases involving alcohol.

In Western Pennsylvania, investigators have been stepping up the efforts in the war against heroin.  Law enforcement officials seized bags of heroin in six counties, many of them stamped with “Theraflu,” “Bud Ice” and “Magic City.”  The spread of the toxic mixture of heroin appears to have shifted to the Philadelphia area, at least for the current time.

Philadelphia city officials state Southeastern Pennsylvania has experienced no recent “Theraflu” heroin overdose deaths, because the quality of the drug going through the area is highly pure.  Though official statistical information is not yet available for 2013, it is clear the state of Pennsylvania is definitely in trouble and more must be done as far as measures to remove lethal heroin from the streets and arresting the dealers who sell the insidious drug.

 TRIBLIVE- Overdoses reach epidemic proportions

  

 The Poison Review- Heroin/Fentanyl drug overdoses in PA