Pubdate: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR) Copyright: 2002 The Log Cabin Democrat Contact: http://thecabin.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548 Author: Associated Press OFFICIALS: 4 DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUG OVERDOSES NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Authorities suspect a deadly batch of illegal drugs circulated in Pulaski County after five drug overdoses, four of them fatal, occurred over the past week. Evidence suggests the overdoses resulted from a dangerous combination of heroin and cocaine, called a "speedball," police say. Two men died in North Little Rock on March 18 after possibly obtaining drugs from the same dealer, police said. Another North Little Rock man and a fourth man in rural Pulaski County died Friday night. Authorities also were investigating a fifth overdose over the weekend. Investigators with the North Little Rock Police Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office were trying to determine if the four deaths were related. "We're concerned about the possibility that there may be a potentially dangerous batch of drugs out there," said North Little Rock police spokesman Sgt. Jim Scott. "We're asking anyone in the public who comes into contact with any suspiciously packaged drugs to contact local authorities." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake