HIGH-GRADE HEROIN CAUSES SPATE OF HUNTER OVERDOSES

A HIGH-GRADE batch of heroin, believed responsible for the weekend death of
a Newcastle man, is wreaking havoc with drug users.

NSW Ambulance spokesman Mr John Raynor said crews were being called to
between three and four overdoses a day.

He said the heroin appeared to be a lot stronger than usual.

Officers were being forced to inject patients with two doses of Narcan,
which reverses the effect of the narcotic.

"We normally use a single dose to bring the person around but that doesn't
appear to be working at the moment," Mr Raynor said.

"In most cases officers are using two doses to get the desired response."

He said the biggest problem areas were inner-city Newcastle suburbs.

The weekend death happened at Chin Chen St, Islington, on Saturday.

Police believe the 42-year-old Hamilton man died from a drug overdose.

He was found lying in the street by a passerby about 8.45am.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Police and ambulance officers said it was possible a single quantity of the
high-grade drug was responsible for the marked increase in overdoses.

Mr Raynor said the drug was so strong that officers had been called to a
series of multiple overdoses.

In many cases each patient needed a double dose of Narcan.

He warned users to be aware of the problem and take precautions.

"We don't want people dying in the streets," he said.

"This is a serious problem and one people should be aware of."

Anyone who comes across a person who has suffered an overdose should call
000.

Checked-by: Don Beck