POLICE EXAMINE 15 NORTH HOUSTON OVERDOSE DEATHS

HOUSTON - Harris County authorities are investigating a string of 15 drug
overdose deaths during the weekend and into Monday that may have been
caused by a deadly batch of heroin or cocaine.

"We noticed a cluster of cases coming in" over a 48-hour span, Medical
Examiner Joye Carter said Monday. "What's been reported to our office is
not convulsive activity but feeling bad, going to sleep and not waking up."

Carter said her office is working with Houston police, the Harris County
Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to find
out what the drug is and where it is coming from.

Police referred comment on the investigation to Carter. The Sheriff's
Department did not immediately return a telephone message left by The
Associated Press.

The DEA has offered its laboratory facilities to help local authorities
determine which drug is killing users.

"We have special testing labs as far as particular drugs," DEA spokesman
Robert Mansaw said. "We have special testing in those particular areas
where a chemist can detect the presence of those substances."

The victims range in age from 16 to 46 and were concentrated in north
Houston, in an area roughly bordered by U.S. 59, the Hardy Toll Road,
Interstate 610 and Beltway 8.

"As far as the geographical area, it would be too much of a coincidence
that these victims died" in unrelated cases, Mansaw said.

A batch of drugs can become deadly if it is too pure, causing overdoses, or
contains a toxic or poisonous substance used to "cut," or dilute the drug.

Carter warned drug users to be careful of substances bought on the street
and to be sure they have access to medical attention.