Heroin Overdoses Soar in Rhode Island (Providence: 2013, mattress, house)

[AlfieBoy]

News Item:

Originally Posted by projo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Twenty-two people died of drug overdoses in Rhode Island during a 13-day period this month — far more than the average for that time period, health officials said Friday.

Tests conducted on 13 of those who died indicated the presence of the painkiller fentanyl, or a fentanyl-like drug. The powerful synthetic opioid is available through prescription and, increasingly, sold or traded on the black market.

Health officials offered no explanation for the spike in deaths, up from the usual three to four per week. The deaths involved a variety of illicit and prescription drugs and were scattered in 13 cities and towns around the state. Those who died from Jan. 1 through Jan. 13 ranged in age from 20 to 62.

News Item:

Originally Posted by projo

Rhys called Providence police Sunday night. An officer checked his house and the Westminster Square Building downtown where Thomas had an office. There was no sign of him.

Rhys called again Monday morning. After getting no answer at Thomas’ front door, Officer Dennis O’Brien crawled through an unlocked window and found Thomas’ body on a mattress in the living room.
In the kitchen, the police found unused syringes and two spoons with drug residue and burn marks on the bottom, “indicating possible drug use,” according to a police report.

The police were told that Thomas had been using heroin, the report said. The medical examiner’s office said the cause of death was “pending further studies.”

What's behind this spike in heroin use and subsequent overdoses? Falling prices of heroin, making is more affordable to more people? New dealers pushing in more places? The death of 22 people in less than two weeks is an alarming statistic.

[notoriouskelly]

True, but I don't envision a dip in our GDP from their demise.

[ljd1010]

It is definitely alarming. Several years ago, I was a volunteer for the state's free/ask no questions needle exchange program. We used to set up shop in a facility off of North Main St, on the East Side. I was pretty surprised at the number of college kids and well dressed 20 something year olds who stopped by to get clean needles.

[Rnrboy]

Same thing is happening all over the Northeast, Vermont in particular.

[massnative71]

Downeast Maine is particularly bad. It's hit every small town in New England. Lately I've been of the attitude to just let people throw their life away like that if that's what they really want to do. It might help out the gene pool...

[Raiderman]

I was watching the news last night, and they had a story about its growing popularity. They said it is due to the difficulty of getting prescription opiates. Heroin is easier to get than Oxycontin now, where it wasn't just a few years ago. So now the pill poppers turn to heroin which gives a similar instant euphoric high.

[massnative71]

I also remember seeing a year or two ago that RI had the highest rate of drug use in the country. NH
I believe had the highest alcohol consumption. MA was high in both. Can't really fathom what's in the air around here.

[Rnrboy]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Can't really fathom what's in the air around here.

We're more honest in surveys?

[Hollytree]

It is known that physicians everywhere in the US have been overprescribing certain drugs for years. Maybe there was a big load of Fentanyl on the market.

I'm sure people are committing suicide all over the place whether it be by drugs, alcohol, smoking, or any manner of risky behavior. Not much new here. Bad economic times also cause a jump. Plus it's winter.

Nationwide issue: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...-in-29-states/

[JBtwinz]

Sometimes I think the news centers around RI because of it's size...... when the fires are bad out west it seems like they always compare it to the size of RI. RI this, RI that

NH has been in the news also:

Heroin Deaths Nearly Double in NH - Government - Concord, NH Patch