close

3 overdose deaths reported in Washington County

4 min read
article image -

Three people died from suspected heroin overdoses in Washington County over the past several days while more than a dozen other overdose victims were transported to area hospitals.

A female died Sunday at an Amwell Township residence, and another person died at Washington Hospital after being taken there from a Washington residence later that night. A third person died in Charleroi Monday morning.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said it is not the first time he was called to investigate several suspected overdose deaths in such a short period.

On Sunday, police investigated 17 reports of drug overdoses in the county, about three times more than usual, said Jeff Yates, Washington County public safety director.

“This is a significant increase in overdose calls over a 24-hour period,” Yates said Monday. “We are working very hard to gather as much information about these incidents as possible.”

Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone, a former paramedic, said based on feedback from at least one ambulance service, most crews average two to four possible overdose calls during a 12-hour shift.

Washington police Chief Chris Luppino said city police responded to reports of five overdoses, including the death at the hospital, between 7:44 and 8:50 p.m. Sunday.

“It was city-wide, from Tylerdale out to Washington Park, including two at one house,” Luppino said. “There is no evidence or paraphernalia that would allow us to link the overdoses together.”

Canonsburg police administered Narcan, a drug that counters the effects of heroin, to a woman who collapsed in the parking lot of a Cavasina Drive business about 3:25 p.m. Sunday. It was the first time police administered the drug since being trained on its use several months ago.

The 21-year-old Washington woman was a passenger in a vehicle en route to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting when she asked the driver to pull over so she could get something inside the store, police said. She collapsed upon exiting the vehicle. Police said she stood up within about four minutes of being given Narcan and was taken to Canonsburg Hospital for treatment. Inside her purse, police found one stamp bag of suspected heroin along with four empty stamp bags and two capped syringes. She is facing drug charges.

Canonsburg police also assisted emergency medical personnel who administered the drug on an overdose victim about 5 p.m. on East Pike Street in Houston.

Donora police administered Narcan to a man in his early 30s about 8:44 p.m., said police Superintendent James Brice.

Canonsburg police Chief Al Coghill said Narcan is carried in police cars. He said it is important for anyone who is with someone they suspect overdosed to immediately call police and emergency medical personnel so Narcan can be administered.

“It is a true medical emergency,” Coghill said. “The patient can stop breathing in a matter of a few minutes.”

Vittone said he started distributing Narcan, also known as Naloxone, to police departments using money forfeited under court order from drug dealers.

“This is part of a multifaceted project to rein in the epidemic,” Vittone said. “To date, we’ve saved six lives. The only way to rid our communities of the scourge is to prosecute the dealers who are poisoning our communities.”

The amount of heroin coming into the county is continually increasing, said Rick Gluth, task force director.

“It comes from everywhere – New Jersey, Detroit, Chicago, all over,” Gluth said. “People have ties everywhere, and it migrates to Washington.”

While crack is still around, Gluth said heroin is the predominate drug.

“Lab results are not available, so it is tough to say if there is a hot batch out there or just a coincidence,” Gluth said.

Coghill said it could also be a purity issue of the drug.

“Or, we could be seeing something that has been adulterated, like having fentanyl added to make it more potent,” the chief added.

Washington County is not alone in weekend drug overdoses, Vittone said. He said eight were reported in the Monessen area of Westmoreland County.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today