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Opioid-laced heroin suspected in string of fatal Fairfax overdoses

Posted at 9:01 PM, Dec 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-10 21:01:22-05

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — After six deaths from overdoses last week, Fairfax police are investigating the possibility that five of those overdoses may have been the result of heroin laced with opioids.

Detectives suspect that there is heroin currently on the streets in the county that is laced with fentanyl and carfentanil, which can be deadly even in small doses. They’re still waiting for lab results that will confirm this suspicion, WDCW reported.

The fifth death occurred on December 7. All of the victims were between the ages of 22 and 34. There have been a total of 102 overdoses in Fairfax County since the beginning of 2017. 70% so far have been confirmed to be opioid-related.

“In my 20 years in Narcotics, I have never seen anything like this. Before this week, the highest number of opioid overdoses we had in a weekend was five, and fortunately, everyone lived,” said Second Lt. James Cox of the Organized Crime and Narcotics Division. “We don’t want to see anyone else die. Please have a plan in place. You may remain anonymous. Help is also available through the Community Services Board for anyone, including families suffering from addiction. Narcan is available.”

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