KILLER SMACK CLAIMS NINE

A batch of "hot heroin" has claimed another life in Vancouver.

A 41-year-old woman became the ninth person to inject a lethal dose
since police first issued a warning almost two weeks ago.

VPD Const. Howard Chow says police still don't know the extent of the
deadly problem.

"We don't know if this is the start of this, the end of it, if there's
a whole lot of product out there and people are going to get killed
off," Chow told reporters yesterday.

One theory is that the deadly batch is actually methadone being passed
off as heroin after a pharmacy in the Downtown Eastside was robbed
earlier this month.

Methadone is a synthetic drug most commonly used orally to wean
addicts off heroin.

Chow says people wouldn't be able to tell the difference if they
received methadone instead of heroin.

"It's risky business," Chow said. "Any illicit street drug you buy
doesn't come with a money back guarantee from the dealers."

If caught, it's possible whoever is responsible for producing or
distributing the lethal heroin doses will face extra charges relating
to the nine deaths.