DETROIT 6 MORE DIE FROM LIKELY OVERDOSES

Unknown Yet If Fentanyl Involved

Six people died from probable drug overdoses between Friday and
Sunday morning, bringing the total number of likely drug-related
deaths to 54 since May 18, Wayne County health officials said Sunday.

But it will take weeks to determine whether the recent deaths were
related to a dangerous mix of the painkiller fentanyl and heroin or
cocaine, said Teresa Blossom, a Wayne County Health Department spokeswoman.

She said that between January and April there were more than 70
deaths caused by the concoction. But toxicology results on
drug-related deaths in May and June are pending.

The county issued a warning May 19 because 12 people died in a
24-hour span, likely from the deadly mix.

Blossom said there are two or three drug-related deaths in the county
on any given day.

Officials at the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office could not be
reached for comment Sunday.

John Roach, a spokesman for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, said
the department has received several tips about the local source of
the drugs but wouldn't release information about the investigation.