‘Highly potent heroin’ said to be in the area, 4 dead

Needle in the gutter. (File photo.)

WINCHESTER, Va.  — Virginia police say three overdose deaths occurred Friday in Clarke and Frederick counties, indicating a “highly potent heroin” in the area, according to a media release from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition.

These four deaths bring the total fatal overdoses this year to six. Police say there have also been 11 nonfatal overdoses reported in 2017.

Police say Carroll County, Maryland officials reported seven overdoses within hours of each other on Friday.

Lauren Cummings, executive director of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition, says authorities believe there is a batch of heroin in the area that has been laced with fentanyl or carfentanil, which would increase the potency of the heroin and could lead to an overdose.

A media release from the Virginia State Police said officers with the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force are increasing efforts to identify the source of the drugs to prevent additional overdoses.