Drug users are in danger in Seattle Washington. Heroin overdose deaths were recorded in a cluster leading police to believe that the victims had acquired the drug from the same source.
Three of the victims died and a fourth victim was hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, according to police. All of the overdoses occurred before 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The location of the known overdoses occurred along the vicinity of Aurora Avenue between North 78th street and North 102nd street.
Bicycle officers have spread across the area North Seattle to warn drug users about the cases of overdose in the area.
Police have reasons to believe that the recent cases of heroin deaths is caused by dangerously pure heroin that is in circulation.
Police officers carry naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The officers also reminded people of the state's Good Samaritan Law in which people will not be charged with illegal possession of drugs to people who report drug overdoses according to an article by Seattle Patch.
Drug users can also turn over the drugs to police if they wish. Police also warned people not to use drugs alone.
Since the introduction of the use of naloxone as an antidote early in 2016, police were able to save a total of 15 people from drug overdose death. Naloxone is administered through a pocket sized device that injects naloxone. A nasal spray version is also available and requires no special training to administer.
Heroin overdose deaths have risen in the past years. Opioids slows down breathing. In an overdose, the breathing is slowed enough that breathing may stop altogether and the victim can die.
If administered soon enough, naloxone can counter the overdose effects usually within minutes of the introduction of the drug into the body according to an article by WebMD Magazine.
