Crime & Safety

Heroin Overdoses Surge As 11 More Die in RI

Thirty-eight people have died from drug overdoses this year in Rhode Island.

The heroin overdose "epidemic" continues in Rhode Island as state health officials have announced that another 11 people have died following accidental overdoses this month.

Since Jan. 1, there have been 38 fatal overdoses in the Ocean State. Twenty-seven were reported in January, up significantly from January 2013 when 18 died. Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Michael Fine is calling the situation an "epidemic."

The increased deaths have been attributed to fentanyl - a powerful painkiller that has been found in 25 of the 33 cases investigated thus far. 

To combat the surge in overdoses, the Rhode Island State Police plan to undergo training in the use of naloxone (also known as Narcan) - a drug used to counter heroin overdoses.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.