MULTIDRUG OVERDOSES ON THE RISE

An increase in drug overdose deaths involving the use of multiple
drugs at the same time has authorities concerned.

"It's not something new, but it's something we are tracking and seeing
more of," said George Butler, a drug investigator from the Carroll
County State's Attorney's Office.

Of 13 people who died of drug overdoses in Carroll County during 2006,
seven had traces of multiple drugs in their systems, according to data
from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provided by the state's
attorney's office.

Deaths caused by the use of methadone, a prescription drug used to
treat heroin, and deaths from the use of both methadone and heroin
combined is something new here, Butler said.

"Initially we would just get heroin deaths," he said. "Now we are
getting . a mixed bag that seems to be drug-related."

Also of concern, Butler said, was the death of a 17-year-old boy, who
died from methadone and heroin intoxication.

"Whenever we get a young person's death it concerns everybody," Butler
said.

A death related to fentanyl - a powerful synthetic painkiller similar
to heroin-also occurred last year, according to the statistics. So far
in 2007, there have been two overdoses, Butler said. Data on the
number of drug-related overdoses in the county from previous years was
not immediately available from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Susan Doyle, the bureau chief of addictions at the Carroll County
Health Department, said multiple drug use is nothing new.

"Most of our clients are polydrug users," she said. "It's a very
dangerous thing to do and that's what we try to tell our clients."

The county-run Shoemaker Center has seen a decrease in people seeking
treatment for heroin and an increase in those seeking help for cocaine
use and prescription drug abuse, Doyle said.

Linda Auerback, a substance abuse prevention coordinator at Junction
Inc., a Westminster nonprofit drug treatment center, said the number
of people seeking treatment has been on the rise. There has been a 28
percent increase in people seeking treatment for heroin, from 2005 to
2006, she said.

"It's a good thing - because people are seeking treatment," Auerback
said.