A recent increase in heroin-related deaths prompted Sedgwick County officials on Thursday to warn residents about the dangers of some of the drugs they’re starting to see in the community.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said he hasn’t seen a major increase in the number of heroin possession or distribution cases in recent years.
“You don’t really see a huge spike in the past few years, but the toxicity, I don't know if I'm using the right word here, but lethality of the stuff that is on the streets is concerning," he said.
Heroin is often cut with other, more potent drugs, such as fentanyl.
Bennett was joined by Timothy Rohrig, director of the Regional Forensic Science Center, and Derby Police Chief Robert Lee for what Bennett called a public service announcement. In 2011, there were 3 heroin overdose deaths. In 2015, there were 21. The number of opioid overdose deaths has increased as well, Rohrig said.
Lee said that last year, two Derby residents overdosed on heroin, "which is two tragedies that occurred in our community."
“And if we’re having heroin overdose deaths in Derby, which is a very safe community," he said, "I assure you that it’s happening elsewhere as well.”
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