POTENT HEROIN SETS RECORD OF 15 DEATHS

In Two Weeks, Drug Kills 8 in County

Heroin overdoses have killed eight people in Milwaukee County during
the past two weeks, mirroring a national spike in deaths blamed on a
cheaper and more potent heroin.

The eight deaths bring this year's total to 15 as of Thursday -
breaking the county's record for a whole year. Another death under
investigation will probably bring the number to 16, Jeffrey Jentzen,
Milwaukee County medical examiner, said Friday.

"We are getting a heroin-related death, it seems, almost every other
day," Jentzen said. "We hope that if the information gets out, people
will take note and we can avoid more deaths."

For all of last year there were 12 heroin-related deaths in Milwaukee
County, down two from the previous year - when the prior record of 14
was set - but 10 more than in 1997.

The people who died from heroin overdoses this year were mostly
middle-aged, something that suggests they may have been longtime users
familiar with a weaker potency drug, Jentzen said. All but three of the
15 heroin overdoses killed people in their 40s or 50s, according to
medical examiner reports. Two were in their 30s and one was 25.

All but one were men. Of the 15, nine were white, four were black and
two Hispanic, reports show. Eleven were from Milwaukee and four from
surrounding suburbs.

"The victims span a broad spectrum of demographic characteristics and
there does not appear to be any typical profile to these cases,"
according to a statement released by Jentzen's office.

All of this year's 15 overdoses were ruled accidental deaths by the
medical examiner's office. Reports show most of them had taken
"speedballs," a combination of heroin and cocaine.It was the heroin
that killed them, acting so fast that some of the victims still had
needles stuck in their arms when they were found dead, Jentzen said.

Local drug counselors said their patients with heroin addictions have
spoken of higher potency of the drug in recent months.

"I've heard that's what's going on, and the people don't know how to
use it," said Annie Reed, who works at the 27th St. Clinic of Milwaukee
Health Service Systems. "My patients have said there is some pure
heroin out there."

Ronald Olstinski, co-manager of the 35th St. Clinic addiction
treatment program, said he wasn't aware of an increase in heroin
overdoses. But the cheap price and high potency of the drug have
probably contributed to overdoses, he said.

"From what I understand, it's very good stuff," Olstinski said. "They
are used to the old (weaker) stuff."

The upsurge in heroin deaths is not unique to Milwaukee. Heroin-related
deaths are increasing nationally as well. Similar increases in heroin
overdoses have been reported on both coasts, as well as Minneapolis-St.
Paul.

According to local law enforcement officials and national
organizations, there are a number of factors influencing what appears
to be a dangerous trend in Milwaukee:

An increase in the purity of the drug.

Major sources of heroin in the Milwaukee area are Colombia, elsewhere
in South America, and Southeast Asia, with the Colombian drug as much
as 90% pure, according to law enforcement officials. Typical purity of
heroin on the streets during the 1980s was 6% to 8%, but South American
heroin seized locally recently has tested 50% to 85% pure. The
Southeast Asian heroin has tested 10% to 30% pure, officials said.

A change in the way users take the drug.

"With the higher purity, there is no longer a need to use a needle,"
said Howard Simon, spokesman for Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
"They can sniff it, or snort it, making it a little easier to use."

Jentzen said heroin deaths here showed that some injected the drug,
while others sniffed it or smoked it.

Heroin is cheap and easily available. Some reports put the cost of a
dose at as little as $10.

Heroin is a highly addictive drug derived from morphine that affects
the brain's pleasure systems and interferes with the brain's ability to
feel pain. In its pure form, it is a white powder with a bitter taste.
It may vary in color from white to dark brown, when impure.

"Speedballs" initially cause a "rush" accompanied by a warm flushing of
the skin, dry mouth, nausea or itching. Heroin kills by essentially
shutting down the respiratory centers of the brain, resulting in
shallow breathing, seizures, coma or death, Jentzen said.

Although heroin deaths are on the rise, they are far outstripped by
cocaine-related deaths. Last year, Milwaukee County had 46 cocaine
overdose fatalities. There were 44 the year before.