Two Heroin Deaths, Three Near Deaths Within 12 Hours In Hazleton Area

Via Hazleton Police Press Release:

Hazleton Police are warning of this public health alarm.  Hazleton Police are sounding the alarm in the Hazleton area, after a "bad batch" of Heroin likely led to at least two deaths and three near death overdoses in just 12 hours and many more over the past several days.

The Hazleton Police Investigation is in the early stages but has seen a number of suspected heroin overdoses in recent days.

This is major increase in drug overdoses as we do not normally see this amount. 

Bags with no stamp or marking may be laced with the drug fentanyl in them and are deadly.

Fentanyl is a powerful narcotic that is used for chronic pain relief and sometimes for anesthesia purposes.
It’s extremely powerful and deadly as it can be 10 to 100 times as strong as morphine.

Clearly, any user is at serious risk of death or immediate overdose leading to death because if this is a case of mixing fentanyl and heroin it can mean an even more powerful narcotic than an individuals body can handle.

While fentanyl can be a legally prescribed drug, much of the fentanyl usually found may be manufactured illegally.

Illegal fentanyl is most likely being made by someone or illegally imported into the country.  The possibility exists that someone may be making this deadly substance somewhere in a clandestine laboratory.

In the past we have learned of periodic epidemics of dangerous heroin batches called "China White," where the heroin was laced with a certain kind of fentanyl.  In this investigation, it is too early to tell how much or if fentanyl is being mixed with the heroin, but the batch is deadly.

Hazleton Police are attempting to alert potential users about the deadly dangers of the drug.

Anyone in possession of this deadly formula are in danger of losing their lives.  This will kill you and I can’t overstate the danger.

Although the bags identified are unmarked it is too early in the investigation to know whether this is the only heroin out there capable of causing death or possibly laced with this dangerous narcotic.

Hazleton Police are warning the public of this deadly drug and the dangerous and deadly consequences.
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"The mission of the Hazleton City Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in our City by working in partnership with the community to enforce the law, preserve peace, reduce fear, and maintain order.  The Hazleton Police Department is committed to accomplishing its mission of protecting the lives and property of all the citizens and visitors of Hazleton by treating everyone with compassion, courtesy, professionalism, and respect, while efficiently rendering public safety services and enforcing the laws impartially, by fighting crime both through deterrence and the relentless pursuit of criminals."