Breckenridge Lane closed following fatal single-car crash. Here's what to know
NEWS

LMPD sees spike in overdose calls

Matthew Glowicki
Louisville Courier Journal

Louisville police believe a mixture of heroin and prescription drugs is behind a spike in overdoses they’ve responded to this month.

“There is something going on, we believe, with the heroin that’s being used in our community,” said Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad. “We believe it is mixed with other drugs, and it is something that is causing people to overdose.”

Already gripped by a heroin crisis, Louisville is seeing an increase in overdoses involving other drugs such as anticonvulsant gabapentin and potent pain medication fentanyl, said Jefferson County Coroner Dr. Barbara Weakley-Jones.

Mixing those prescription drugs with heroin amplifies potency and the risk of death. Blood lab testing confirmed an increased share of overdose fatalities from this fall through January involve those two drugs, she said.

Conrad said the heroin is being cut with these other drugs while maintaining potency. He added he’s not sure if the majority of those addicted know their heroin is laced.

In a Monday news conference, he shared preliminary info from the coroner about the ODs and a drug police are using to counter overdoses.  Officers gave a potentially life-saving dose of heroin antidote naloxone 26 times to those overdosing in all of February. Twelve days into March, the month's total has jumped to 43.

LMPD launched a pilot program in January to equip officers with naloxone, a medication that in seconds can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

In 2015, through March 9, there were 13 deaths associated with heroin. This year, in the same period, there were 34 overdose deaths, which are still pending toxicology results.

And while Conrad could not definitely say the overall number of heroin-related overdoses in the city have increased recently, he said it appears more users are coming into contact with the drug cocktails and preliminary numbers from the coroner suggest it is having deadly effects.

“The potency is always changing and can always be mixed with new medications,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, interim director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. “Every time someone injects they run the risk of overdosing.”

Commentary | 'Naloxone saved my life'

She called on friends and family of those addicted to tell loved ones of the dangers of the drug cocktails and the resources available to help.

Russ Read, one of the founders of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition, said naloxone – known by brand name Narcan – is only a temporary fix and further medical attention and therapy is needed.

“It is a gateway to treatment,” Read said. “When that wears off in 30 to 60 to maybe even 90 minutes, that person could go back into an overdose. That’s why it’s so very important that they go to the hospital once they’re treated with Narcan.”

Senate moves to aid Ky., Ind. in heroin fight

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin, reports the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Kentucky ranked No. 6 in the country for fentanyl drug seizures by police in 2014 with 232 cases, while Indiana was 10th with 133, according to an October health advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gabapentin is a prescription medication used to treat seizures and nerve pain and is also known by brand names Neurontin and Horizant.

Moyer said the public is invited to Naloxone training scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. March 15 at the Department of Public Health and Wellness, 400 E. Gray St. Free kits will be provided at the event, supplied by the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition.

Naloxone, the heroin antidote.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com.