Fairfax County: 66 Heroin Overdoses, 17 Deaths So Far in 2014

In order to help combat Fairfax County’s growing problem with heroin, county officials today held an online question and answer session on the topic. Here’s information from the county about it:

Paul Cleveland from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Office of Organized Crime & Narcotics and Peggy Cook, Director of Residential Treatment Services for the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board discussed the dangers and prevalence of heroin and opiate use and addiction facing our community in an online chat.

The number of overdoses has risen dramatically in 2014; the total number is 66 in Fairfax County so far, they noted in today’s chat. Additionally, they said, there have been 17 deaths related to heroin so far. (This compares to 41 overdoses and 9 deaths for the same date in 2014, they noted.)

They discussed the signs to look for if you suspect someone is using heroin, including: “There are physical and behavioral signs. Physically, look for small pupils, lack of responsiveness, (falling asleep when they shouldn’t be) , marks on their arms, sometimes a skin abrasion like they rubbed themselves too much (heroin makes you itchy) . Behaviorally, look for different friends, lower grades, being fired from a job, no money, stealing or “borrowing” money.. You may also notice missing shoe laces, needles etc.”

Learn more about the issue, and the resources available via the online chat transcript.

PHOTO: Patch archive photo