Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 Source: Morning Call (Allentown, PA) Copyright: 2006 The Morning Call Inc. Contact: http://www.mcall.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/275 Author: Joann Loviglio Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) OFFICIALS LAUNCH JOINT REGIONAL EFFORT TO TRACK FENTANYL-LACED HEROIN City, state and federal law enforcement and public health officials on Tuesday announced a joint regional effort to track the ongoing deaths attributed to painkiller-laced heroin and identify the suppliers of the drug. The fentanyl-laced heroin has caused about 70 deaths in the Philadelphia metropolitan region and more than 200 overdoses nationwide since it was first spotted in April, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Meehan said. "The problem with fentanyl is that it's deadly," Meehan said. "The push of a syringe is like pulling the trigger." To determine the full scope of the problem in the region, officials representing law enforcement in Philadelphia and Camden County, N.J.; the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI; and Philadelphia's behavioral health department said they would share information and coordinate their investigations into the spike of fentanyl-related deaths since the spring. Fentanyl is a legally produced prescription painkiller that is 40 to 100 times stronger than morphine, said James Kasson, DEA special agent-in-charge. It is commonly used to treat cancer pain; however, the type of fentanyl currently being mixed with heroin is most likely manufactured in clandestine labs like one raided several weeks ago in Mexico, he said. The drug is also many times stronger than heroin and even OxyContin, another painkiller that has caused overdoses. An overdose can slow breathing to the point of death. Deaths have been reported over the past month in the cities -- and suburbs -- of Philadelphia, Camden, Chicago and Detroit. Federal authorities are trying to determine whether the cases are related in any of those areas, Kasson said. Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham expressed concern that disseminating information about fentanyl-laced heroin would increase awareness among addicts and result in more deaths. However, she said that getting the word out was essential from a public health perspective. "In the back of our minds, we worry ... this may be something that, perverse as it may sound, will encourage drug abusers who are used to the high of heroin to want to seek even a bigger bang for their dollar," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman