Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact: provletters@png.canwest.com
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

POLICE NEED HELP TO TRACK DEADLY HEROIN

Frustrated police are once again pleading for help from addicts to trace
the source of a suspected bad batch of heroin that has killed eight addicts
in eight days.

A man whose body was found in a Downtown Eastside rooming house Friday is
believed to be the most recent fatal overdose in a string that began Aug.
19. The man died sometime in mid-week.

So far, six of the eight victims have perished in the Downtown Eastside
area. All were intravenous heroin users.

Police are concerned the number of dead may rise after this weekend because
it's the weekend after Welfare Wednesday and overdose numbers typically
spike at such times.

"The addicts have to be careful," said Insp. John McKay of the citywide
drug enforcement team. "Whatever's being done out there isn't good."

Exactly what killed the eight won't be known until toxicology reports are
completed sometime in the next two weeks. McKay said he suspects it's an
amount of heroin poorly mixed with a dilutant, leaving some quantities
relatively weak and others lethally strong.

McKay said it's unlikely whoever is selling the substance is intentionally
killing off users. Organized crime rings have been known to "hot cap"
victims -- give them ultra-pure heroin with the intent of killing them.

Police are asking addicts to call CrimeStoppers anonymously at
1-800-222-8477 if they have any information about who might have sold the
dangerous opiate. Officers are also advising users to buy their drugs only
from a known, and if possible, trusted source.