Deadly combo of heroin and Fentanyl use is on the rise

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Recently, there has been a spike in overdose deaths across the state from people using heroin combined with a prescribed painkiller called Fentanyl.

Four deaths have been reported in Akron and one in Columbus from the drug. Steve Carrel with Muskingum Behavioral Health said that heroin mixed with Fentanyl can be one of the most dangerous drugs there is.

“It appears to be highly potent heroin, the high potent part being Fentanyl, which is about 100 times more powerful than morphine,” said Carrel. "It’s a very, very strong pain medication. You not only have the high of the heroin, but the high of the Fentanyl, which can cause people to overdoes.”

Carrel suggest anyone who has a loved one addicted to heroin should go the Project Dawn Classes at the Health Department to get registered to use Naloxone, an overdose drug that can save lives.

Carrel said that they haven’t seen much heroin mixed with Fentanyl in Muskingum County, but that could change at any moment.

“There has been some in Muskingum County, but now a whole lot,” said Carrel. “Right now, and this could change in a heartbeat, we’re not seeing much of it. We’re mostly seeing black tar heroin.”

Carrel said there were 12 overdose related deaths in Muskingum County in the past year.