[image-1]Update: Another week, another torturous update of devastating numbers.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports on the current OD toll in the city, and the escalation of the problem, tied by authorities to the influx of a powerful elephant sedative in the heroin chain:
From January to June, Akron paramedics responded to about 320 drug overdose calls.
In the three weeks between July 5 and July 26, paramedics logged 236.
The dramatic spike, from two or fewer per day to 11 or more, is thought to be the result of the introduction of carfentanil to the Akron drug market. The heroin-like drug is so potent it’s used to sedate elephants in zoos.
So far this year, 63 people have died of drug overdoses in Akron. Twenty of the deaths can be attributed to the ongoing spike.
***
Update (7/21/16): Just a week later, and the numbers continue to climb.
Starting on July 5, officials in Akron began noticing a spike in heroin and fentanyl-related overdoses in the city. As the weeks went on, the digits kept piling up as authorities learned that many of the ODs stemmed from heroin that had been cut with carfentanil, a powerful sedative used most commonly on elephants.
While the pace has slowed the death toll inches upward.
Since July 5, there have now been 141 overdoses and 14 deaths, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
“This is definitely an increase from what we’ve seen in the past couple years,” Akron police spokesperson Lt. Rick Edwards told the paper.
***
(Original story 7/14/16): In reporting the advances of Northeast Ohio’s opiate epidemic, one comes across a fair number of “WTF moments.” Here’s one for you: The Akron police chief says that many of the 91 overdoses in his city since July 5 come from heroin cut with carfentanil, a wildly powerful opiate commonly used to sedate elephants and rhinoceroses.
“It’s brand new. I learned about carfentanil maybe eight days ago, seven days ago. It wasn’t on the radar. The carfentanil is being cut into the heroin,” Chief James Nice tells WEWS, which first reported this development.
Eight of those 91 overdoses have been fatal.
From WEWS:
Dr. Kimberly Cook, director of animal health and conservation at the Akron Zoo, said carfentanil is an ultra potent opioid that is used an anesthetic for very large animals such as elephants or hoof stock. She also said it’s 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
Cook explained veterinarians who use the drug must take strict precautions.
“It’s an incredibly dangerous drug,” Cook said. “We’re concerned that even a drop could get in an eye so we wear eye protection. We wear long sleeves. We wear gloves.”
Akron police are all-hands-on-deck now, with two arrests thus far on the books in this case. (No information about those suspects has been released publicly, and no carfentanil has been seized by police.)
“This is a public health crisis,” Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said when the overdose spike first broke earlier this month. “We cannot arrest our way to sobriety.”
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2016.
How do these drug dealers killers I should say get a hold of this stuff? Wow so they knowing do this I call it murder!!! But yet no charges. Are ever brought
All things are possible in this time of computers my god hope that shit don’t touch down in Bermuda so many will die here
Please keep away from pain pills. You will soon use heroin which is cheaper and a addiction you may end up dead from .Plea Goddard help these young people be strong.Amen
An elephant tranquilizer being found in and around the time as
the Republic Convention in Cleveland? Some other country trying
to destroy our country possibly and its most vulnerable people?
I hope they get caught and their intended sufferings for us fall
back on them!
How do they get it? The thugs are breaking now breaking into animal hospitals and veterinary clinics, that’s how!
Who knew that so many people used heroin, after graduating from pain pills? I guess we know now, as the bodies pile up, but do many people care? Naaaah…
The dealers will do anything to get what they can sell…just like the thugs who brazenly steal keys from the offices of car dealerships, and then drive off in new cars, some of which are later used to smash into storefronts to steal ATMs.
When are all these shitheads finally gonna be crushed and stopped?
The RNC delegates and visitors saw a façade…they never even came close to experiencing the REAL Cleveland.
Chuckles the Clown
Iselldope21 ,your ignorance is annoying!! if you look at the reports,the minority lately has been more female African Americans… And I’m only going to assume you probably smoke pot so how would you like it if you were buying pot dipped in battery acid..Ur already making good money off of sick people,so purposely putting cut in that kills people is beyond greed, its the lowest of low, u have no place being around civil people .locked up ,or even better u shld get a hot shot of ur own supply cuz ur a scum bag and the world won’t miss u.😉
Big pharma keeps pushing the opiates, especially to the VA, which exascerbates the problem. This would go away once weed becomes legal. The overdoses hark back to the summer of 72 when many kids were overdosing on something they called Bam-Bam. It went for something like $20 an ounce and was sold in baggies like weed, except it was a baggie of powder.
Support. Understand. Stop locking people up and judging them for things many don’t understand. Until this bs ‘drug war’ is revamped, it’s going to continue forever.
I notice one comment by JuJu asking “how do these dealers get hold of this stuff?” Well from one Juto another JuJu, what a daft question!! How d’ya think they get a hold of it? If they can get hold of a substance that’s grown in fields halfway round the world, I’m damn sure they can get hold of a drug that the big pharma companies make in your big ol country!! Please!! Let’s hope the people who are trying to get this stuff off the streets have more common sense than JuJu!!!!
Sick just sick. Akron, we must do better! The WORLD NEEDS BETTER. I’m an adult probation officer, I’ve seen and heard a lot. Yet, this is new to me. It’s horrid ! And wondering how these scumbof scum are getting this powerful drug! And to cut drugs with it and kill people? It’s premeditated, calculated murder. And drugs are bad enough.
And drug dealers MAKE MY SKIN CRAWL. They always have higher bond $$ on hand stashed for IF THEY GET POPPED. Do I request in my job a much higher bond allowed by the criminal justice system. These asses do still have rights. But If I request a high bond for any defendant, I have my reasons , given to the arraignment judge that gilts threw 2 court sessions the next day. Charge and bond set at…. I’m gotten great at my job, it’s just 1 I also took care before my hip replacements that the disease showed its ugly head one day and pain was insane and I walked a lot between the jail many times daily , interviewing and seeing IF THESE MEN / WOMEN WERE ABLE TO BE RISK SCORED AND VK THRIR NATIONSL RECORD, gibd out if on probation / parole in any city. I FOUND THEM. Lying. So I hunted and found info but between the killers and kidnappers and DV cases at all levels DRUG DESLI G IS RIGHT UP THERE!!! It’s got to be dealt with better. I helped those puking up withdrawing on our sick bay, but detox can be dangerous but again…. Rights. So I’m praying tonight and every night this is like a o e hit wonder and goes away as fast as it blew into Akron and God knows where else. Lock those meds up vets!!! And do what the state requires you to do. Also some flip through the cracks but this is alreAdy out of hand. This is murder! Sad to come home to tonight to read. I’ve been without much free time lately, so sorry I’m behind hearing. Lots on my plate and pray these task forces keep bringing g down these drug houses and always pharmacies double cking any opiates dispenced.
And I suggest all pharmacies go to the 3 QUESTION DEAL. Upon pick up you have 3 security questions set up like banking. Or on line banking, student loan info regarding Accts. Etc. if you can’t answer, the RX DIESNT LEAVE. For those too ill with pain beyond comprehension such as cancer or end stage cancers or horrid accidents etc. pain management is on board eith monthly ck ups and monitered by the state. So the dumpster divers can’t get personal access to your info. Scratch off ALL PETSONSL INFO ON SNY LABEL!!!!! Including antibiotics it’s your address, phone Medicine and more. Take the 5 minutes to rid all your info off. Please God get rid of this nightmare.!
Legalize it – have supervised injection sites for people who aren’t ready to or just can’t stay sober – God forbid we think out of the box like other countries !
May God help every lost and addicted soul On earth the devil is hard at work trying to take away special angles and heroin is just one of his tools in his tool box believe that there is nothing that your Lord can’t get you through and depend on him for ALL u have is what he has allowed, no longer living with hatred or worry truly believe in our father have trust and let go,he will take charge u just have to follow I have lived the life of addiction for many years and once it had control over my mind I hurt and took advantage of ANYONE in my way only caring about my substance and how I would get it, would do anything with out any concern and worry about the consequences later always trying to figure out a way for others to pay for my wrong doings. He gave me chance after chance to change before I had to pay life changing consequences and even then it wasn’t enough always had that one person to keep me going take me in , feel bad for me and give me what I wanted only until everything was gone and I was left with me I finally started to want a different way of life for myself,so I began to believe and grow closer to my maker,my father, my Creator, and I began to feel In my heart all he has done for u and me,i was tired of fighting so I gave everything to him and repented asked for forgiveness,he carried me along with answers along the way of things i needed answers for things that haunted me from early childhood hood amazing I tell you he showed me examples of things that happened in my life which revealed answers to me on why things happened the way they did intern let me let go of grudges I held deep down inside which let me build relationships back up.I watched from a young child addiction and drugs take my mother,family, and friends from me, It didn’t make sense then but no I no it has no care in the world who u are it’s only care is to take your life from you after destroying everything else you cared for and believed in. It’s inevitably up to you, some want it some don’t for everyone out there trying to help a addict PLEASE the only thing u should do is pray for them that’s it, will be the hardest thing ever to walk away and watch but any other help money, rides shelter ,supporting them is actually making it easier and faster for them to kill them selves I pray for them to never lose their gut feeling that God has a plan for them and they haven’t lost their inner most thoughts to change and quite living the life they have grown to hate, pray they remember the times in there lives when they were innocent children happy and free with no worries everyone has memories of good times at least one that’s what they are there for to remember and reminisce to take your mind to a better place remember who you were and what u liked and slowly start to live like that again.AN addict stop’s maturing when they begin using drugs so if one started when they were 14 that means when they stop and get sober they still have the mindset of a 14 year old and are very fragile in there first 6 months rehab and centers are great and will teach you a lot but it’s honestly ALL up to the individual if there mind’s are made up for their selves and no one else because they want to quit and are done being beaten and controlled by a substance only then they will surrender and hopefully like me cry out into the darkness for God to come into their lives and take full control and be willing to trust and do anything he may have with full confidence he is going to save you from ALL wickedness and harm believeing he is ALMIGHTY God and everything is possible with him. To the parents,lovers, family and friends of the addict nothing comes before there drug eventually every last thing will be destroyed by them in any manner whatsoever so they can continue to use. If you love them enough walk away and have faith they will find their way and let them know u will be there when they are clean and have at least 6 months under their belt may God continue to fight for all of you and your family’s HOPE FOR HEROIN AND THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION- KEEP PUSHIN -🌎📖💯⛪🌅☀🌟🔊🔑🔓🔜🔝LIVE 4 ONE =Resurrection is coming he is waiting for you time will tell once it’s here it may be too late don’t let time pass you bye.let your plan be lived out we all have a purpose please take a chance and find out what’s yours before it’s too late he took the nail’s for US, gave his only begotten son for us what do you have to loose give him a honest chance and turn your life over to him sing him praise and spread his word I promise miracles u NEVER dreamed of will come true and before you no it your life will be free filled with happiness and joy from one addict to another I Love You so does my god,he is waiting for you constantly fighting for you life is waiting for you to live it thank you for your time if my words help ONE soul it’s a job well done, sometimes u have to just listen and obey doing what is asked of you like this I am writing don’t question it just do it and all will be revealed i don’t need to no when or why that’s why they call it faith it’s a awesome thing and all of us can have it change your thinking turn over your life and follow your Creator God bless you all. power of prayer power of words and voice thankfulness and praise to you Lord for you are my voice it is because of you for all is good and all God’s children say amen. Sincerely Matthew John Price
Some of these comments are batshit crazy…..
How are they getting hands on carfentanil??
They are ordering it from chem supply houses in China, or off the dark web.
No the republicans aren’t distributing it, no Obama isn’t pushing it. It’s mainly crime syndicates looking to increase profit margins with an ultra potent cut.
236 overdose calls in 3 weeks is absolutely absurd! The tragic numbers of heroin overdoses in Ohio and throughout the nation has reached epidemic proportions. We need to come together and provide solutions such as more education, long-term incarceration to dealers, medical centers that can provide effective detox treatment and individualized mental health care. We cannot look away anymore. Too many lives lost. We have the ability and means, so let’s start offering real help.
This is an evil drug, the worst part is it only takes one time and your sucked up into the ugly reality, it’s all they can think about it’s all they want and they will do anything to get it, everyday of their miserable existence. It is a sad truth, and for some unknown reason it’s the #1 drug of choice in schools across the country.it’s easily accessible and it tears the lives of everyone that is addicted and their families apart, I don’t care what anyone tries to say, you CAN NOT TRUST A HEROIN ADDICT! I have personally watched it take upstanding intelligent people, business owners , people with college degrees reduced to sleeping in a retention ditch and begging for money on the street, loosing everything they own including their own Children and still their entire life is lived for feeding their addiction, they don’t care about anything else pr anyone else, and anyone that is saying any different is a bald faced lier And I’ll say it to their face. I f you can get them into Rehab it can’t be any less than a 6 month program in hospital and supervised aggressive full time treatment center. Anything less WILL FAIL! on my worst day I could never understand what would male anyone do that to themselves. It is evil, it is the work of the devil, and it is affecting millions of people across this great nation so wake up America WE NEED TO GET GOD BACK IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES! and those that don’t like it and find it offensive go live somewhere else because YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! And may God have mercy on your souls.
Susan Lipke Mesa Az
God has sent these drugs to punish American for electing Trump
My son died at age 29. He was my firstborn and the father of a 6yr old little boy. He was not a heroin addict not was he an IV drug user. A puncture mark was found on him in an odd place during autopsy along with abrasions on both knees. He had been injected with CARFENTANIL. Not any heroin laced with the poison. Just straight poison. If one or two granules can kill a human then what? This to me was definitely planned and an overkill. Five ppl were with him that know who played what parts. I was told by APD they all have clammed up and there’s nothing they can do. Well I beg to differ. If he had used on his own that night no matter what the route of ingestion then why not call 911? Instead bathe him, dress him in shorts only. He was put outside on the curb like trash. They didn’t even bother to put underwear on him. He was dropped off at his ex GFS apt around 130 am and he was being pronounced dead at 601am. When I inquired as to why it never made the news…..I was informed that “well crime happens every day and it all cant make the news.”. I am not only disgusted but appalled at how this has been handled. As if all this with the number of versions I have been told by the ppl in charge isn’t enough then we were treated like crap by the funeral home. I was denied the right to even glance thru a window at just his face for two seconds. The ppl in the funeral business I thought were supposed to be suited for it. He was cremated and given to me in a zip lock bag.
95% of the worlds Heroin is from Afghanistan…… our troops guard the poppy fields… then it ends up in Mexico (open border) and ends up in the USA. sickening.