DEADLY HEROIN IN UPPER DARBY REACHING 'CRAZY' PROPORTIONS

UPPER DARBY -- The township faces a lethal-heroin epidemic, says the
superintendent of the Upper Darby police. Heroin mixed with fentanyl
has taken the life of a young Drexel Hill man and almost killed a
township woman. The man, 19, was found unconscious in his house on
Sunday May 28.He had no pulse and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman who overdosed, Virginia C. Blanken, 45, of the 7200 block
of Merion Terrace, suffered cardiac arrest on May 24 and was revived
by paramedics and arrested after being discharged from the hospital.

"In both cases the residue substances in packets found field-tested
positive for cocaine," police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.
"Both involved heroin packets stamped 'CRAZY' and contained traces of
fentanyl," a potent synthetic painkiller.

"Drugs continue to be a major problem in the township. In our
investigation we can't say yet where the source of the heroin is
coming from but do know it's coming from Philadelphia," noting a
total of seven heroin-related deaths have occurred in the township
since March 11 and the overdose involving the woman who was
resuscitated by paramedics responding to her apartment.

"Police found several blue packs of heroin envelopes with '187.com'
stamped in red when they responded to the Drexel Hill residence,"
Chitwood said, noting three other envelopes stamped 'CRAZY'
containing suspected heroin powder were also found near the body.
"They recovered a spoon," and other evidence indicative of drug use.

In Blanken's case police recovered a quantity of paraphernalia
including 14 syringes, razor blade, three crack pipes, steel wool and
numerous empty packets with the word 'CRAZY' stamped on them.

Blanken was arraigned on charges of violation of the Health and
Safety Act for drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"The epidemic is continuing," Chitwood said. "We have another dead
and another who OD'd."

Last week the Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric N. Hellman
declared the drug related deaths in the area from heroin contaminated
with fentanyl "a significant health issue."

The lethal heroin has been linked to several deaths in Philadelphia
and South Jersey since mid-April sparking a federal investigation
into the rash of fatal overdoses in at least seven states.

Chester and Upper Darby police arrested two major heroin-cocaine
distributors in their communities. They seized quantities of cocaine,
syringes, drug paraphernalia and packaging materials as evidence.