Spike In Fatal Heroin Overdoses Prompt Dire Warnings By Police
BOSTON (CBS) -- A spike in fatal heroin overdoses in a short period of time has prompted police departments across the state to warn residents about the dangerous and growing epidemic.
State Police have responded to 21 suspected heroin overdose deaths within an 8-day period in March, Colonel Superintendent of the State Police Timothy Alben tweeted.
More than 140 overdoses occurred in January and February 2014. Men made up a majority of the cases were men.
On Tuesday, Yarmouth Police reported its 39th known heroin related overdose and 5th heroin related death since the start of the year.
Yarmouth Police encouraged residents who need help to attend a weekly "Learning to Cope" meeting.
"Heroin addiction is ugly and deadly and rips families apart in cities and towns all over Cape Cod, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the entire New England region," the department posted on Facebook Tuesday.
Three people died from heroin overdoses within 48 hours in Lynn last week, reflecting the growing trend in the city. Thirty-five people died in Lynn from heroin overdoses in 2014, compared to seven in 2010, The Boston Globe reported.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports