For Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 12, 2016

News Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 802-332-6821
Email: john@jgpr.net

Newport, Vt. Police Warn Community About Particularly Lethal Strain of Heroin

NEWPORT, Vt. — Police Chief Seth C. DiSanto and the Newport Police Department are warning the community that a particularly lethal strain of heroin is currently being distributed in the City of Newport and surrounding area.

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the Newport Police Department and Newport Ambulance Service responded to a heroin-related overdose in the parking lot of the American Legion, 60 Railroad St.

The victim, a 27-year-old male, was revived with nasal Naloxone deployed by the Newport Ambulance Service and transported to a local hospital.

The next day, officers responded to another heroin-related overdose in the parking lot of Maplefields, 273 Main St. The victim, a 23-year-old male, was revived with nasal Naloxone deployed by the Newport Police Department and transported to an area hospital.

“While all heroin is potentially lethal, the severity of these two consecutive incidents leads us to believe that this batch of drugs that has infiltrated our community is worse than usual,” Chief DiSanto said. “We are aggressively pursuing anyone who may be distributing heroin or other drugs throughout Newport, and encourage residents to report any suspected overdose immediately.”

Both of these incidents are under investigation by the Newport Police Department.

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