Data show heroin deaths in the city are down so far this year, but usage trends are still worrying Lexington officials.
Back in March, emergency officials had warned about a new, potentially more fatal, form of heroin making its way onto Lexington streets. Division of Fire Battalion Chief Brian Wood said dealers had begun lacing the drug with fentanyl, a strong synthetic opiate.
But so far the new form of heroin has yet to mainstream in Lexington.
The Herald-Leader reports that heroin deaths in the first five months of 2014 numbered 21, seven fewer than this time last year. Still the trend line for heroin usage since 2012 continues to climb overall. Many users switched to heroin from prescription painkillers following the passage of House Bill1 two years ago, which cracked down on access to the pills.
Data from the coroner’s office show Lexington with 44 heroin-related deaths last year – double the number in 2012.
