Dangers of Heroin, Fentanyl Growing in DuPage County: Officials

By SCOTT VIAU (Patch Staff)

A recent spike in heroin-related deaths has prompted DuPage County officials to warn the public of the growing dangers associated with heroin and fentanyl.

“Never before has heroin prevention been more important than it is today, right here in DuPage County. I’m asking parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, camp counselors, anyone who deals with students or young adults: Please educate yourself and talk to your family about the dangers of heroin,” County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said in a statement.

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The County has seen a recent spike in deaths associated with heroin and heroin laced with fentanyl, a powerful opiate that is significantly more potent than morphine.

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen, M.D. said he wants to inform the public of “three disturbing trends” causing increased overdoses and deaths in the Chicago metro area.

“First, large amounts of fentanyl, a synthetic opiate stronger than heroin, is being distributed in the Chicago metro area either mixed with heroin or by itself. Second, fentanyl and analogs (designer fentanyls) are being illicitly made in homegrown labs or imported. These designer fentanyls are often five to ten times stronger than medical fentanyl,” Jorgensen said.

Third is the danger of ingesting illicitly manufactured drugs that claim to be OxyContin or Xanax, but contain fentanyl. 

“Therefore, users may not even know that they are taking this powerful and deadly drug. These three factors have led to an alarming increase in overdose and death,” Jorgen said.

In 2015, the DuPage Narcan Program saved 62 people who were overdosing on heroin or fentanyl. Through early June of 2016, the DuPage Narcan Program reports 64 overdose reversals. In 2015, 43 people died of a heroin overdose in DuPage County.

“Recently we have witnessed a startling increase in heroin and fentanyl overdose deaths, not only in DuPage County but throughout Illinois,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. “Any time there is a narcotic overdose death in DuPage County we are committed to working with law enforcement to identify, apprehend and vigorously prosecute those who supplied the fatal dose.”

Those who are convicted of supplying fatal doses could face up to 60 years in prison. 

Officials who presented information at the news conference included County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Hanover Park Deputy Police Chief Andrew Johnson representing the DuPage Chiefs of Police Association and DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala.

Image via shutterstock.