Washtenaw County Sees 8 Heroin Overdoses in Two Weeks

Two people died, and another six were hospitalized due to suspected heroin overdoses in the last two weeks, according to a report on AnnArbor.com. 

One of the men, a 27-year-old Saline resident, died one day after being released from rehab, the article states.

Since the start of 2013, 36 cases of heroin possession have been reported to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office according to crimemapping.com. 

"In the last few years, heroin has become a growing problem in Washtenaw County and southeast Michigan," the article states. "The drug’s low price makes it a cheap alternative to prescription opiates, which have become increasingly popular in recent years."

An article in the Saline Reporter states that heroin is a growing problem in the county, "...many people do not realize heroin use is a problem in this area, but it is something police regularly deal with and occasionally there are deaths."

Heroin is not just a problem in Washtenaw County. The recent uptick in heroin overdoses has caused neighboring Oakland County to issues an alert to residents.

The Oakland County Health Division issued a warning last week about "a significant increase" in heroin-related overdoses reported to the Michigan Poison Control Center.

While the cause for the increase remains under investigation, the Health Division noted cases outside Michigan have been tied to combining heroin with Fentanyl, described as "an extremely potent synthetic opiate analgesic" generally prescribed for severe pain. 

According to a Health Department fact sheet, signs of heroin use include needle marks, loss of appetite, and unusual sleep patterns.

The following are a set of facts from the Oakland County Health Division:

• Death
• Respiratory depression
• Coma
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Convulsions
• Clammy Skin
• A warm flushing of the skin
• Drowsiness
• Constricted pupils
• Nausea
• Heavy extremities
• Dry mouth
• Blue lips and fingernails
• Alternatively wakeful and drowsy states

• Restlessness
• Muscle and bone pain
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Severe craving for the drug
• Cold flashes

• Supervise their child's activities, know who their friends are and monitor their surroundings.
• Look for signs of heroin use such as needle marks, loss of appetite and unusual sleep patterns.