POTENT TYPE OF HEROIN KILLS ONE, KNOCKS OTHERS UNCONSCIOUS

Police Respond To Overdose Cases Apparently From Fentanyl Combination

A potent form of heroin delivered devastating effects to users in
several city neighborhoods over the weekend, killing one and knocking
others unconscious in cars and homes.

Pittsburgh police said they and paramedics responded to at least 20
heroin overdose cases in a 24-hour period yesterday and Saturday,
primarily in Hazelwood, Greenfield and Lincoln Place and on the North
Side. At the scene of many of the overdoses, investigators found tiny
packets labeled in red type with the words: "Get high or die trying."

In most cases, the users were revived by paramedics and taken to
local hospitals, where they were evaluated for several hours before
walking away or being arrested by city police. They did not appear to
suffer long-lasting effects with the exception of the one fatality,
identified by the medical examiner's office as Joseph Zielinski, 45,
of Penn Hills. He was found unconscious yesterday morning in an
apartment at 184 Greenfield Ave., along with another user who
overdosed and was revived.

In recent months, other cities in the country have seen an unusually
high number of deaths among heroin users. The heroin was typically
laced with fentanyl, a painkiller far stronger than morphine.
Authorities in St. Louis have reported as many as 20 fatalities in
the past month related to the heroin-fentanyl combination. In
Detroit, officials alerted the public on May 19 about 12 people dying
in a 24-hour period, apparently all from the drug mix. Chicago and
Philadelphia are among other cities affected.

Pittsburgh Police said, however, that this weekend was the first
unusual surge in overdoses he was aware of locally.

"It appears to be one specific brand of heroin," said the sergeant
supervising yesterday's day shift for Squirrel Hill-based Zone 4,
which handled at least five cases yesterday, and more the day before.
"Some junkies hear about it and go looking for it because the weaker
stuff no longer gets them high."

Sgt. Begenwald said the individuals he knew of who were affected
yesterday were all white males, ranging in age from about 20 to early
50s. Investigators were trying to determine the source of the drug,
since there may have been one key supplier.

In one case on Saturday, he said, one motorist who had used the
heroin lost consciousness driving on Hazelwood Avenue and drove into
a fire truck. On Murray Avenue yesterday, another driver was found
unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle. And one user was found
unconscious twice within 19 hours at two different Lincoln Place residences.

Police declined to release the names of the users, who were taken in
most cases to UPMC Presbyterian and Mercy Hospital.

Dr. Susan Dunmire, an attending physician at UPMC Presbyterian's
emergency room, said the hospital typically receives one or two
overdose cases a week, but had at least three yesterday with a similar pattern.

"They're found unresponsive by paramedics, the paramedics administer
a reversal agent, and they are all awake by the time they get to us,"
Dr. Dunmire said. "As long as paramedics are able to get there before
they die, the reversal agent will work."

Known as naloxone, or Narcan, the drug counteracts the effect of
opiates, which typically slow down a person's breathing and can stop
it altogether. Besides death, the individuals who lose oxygen risk
suffering irreversible brain damage, Dr. Dunmire said.

The autopsy on Mr. Zielinski won't take place until today.
Authorities weren't saying with any certainty that fentanyl was used
in this weekend's heroin batch, but Dr. Dunmire commented, "That's
what we are supposing is occurring here. Obviously something has
occurred to the heroin in Pittsburgh in the last few days to make it
a much more potent substance."

Pittsburgh police Lt. Kevin Kraus said last night there's a
similarity and a pattern with each case. He said the heroin bags are
stamped with the marking of either "Dynasty" or "Get High or Die Trying."

Lt. Kraus said they have yet to determine where the heroin
originated, but that they had been in contact with police in Detroit.

"We've been working with them and sharing information because of some
similarities they had with a drug known as fentanyl," he said. "We
are trying to determine if the cases are linked."

Lt. Kraus said at least three mid-level dealers have been arrested as
well as several users. He said it's highly unusual for the city to
experience such a high amount of overdoses with the same stamped bag.

He said police have confiscated numerous packets of heroin that will
be sent for testing.