MO: Overdose outbreak in Springfield and Greene Counties

[Shiloh]

Source: http://ozarksindependent.com/2019/10/23/third-person-dead-in-overdose-outbreak/

Third Person Dead in Overdose Outbreak
October 23, 2019 Jason Wert

A third person has been confirmed to have died from the recent rash of overdoses in Springfield and Greene County.

The identities of the those who have died have not been released to the media.

Health department and city officials have connected the overdoses to a batch of heroin that has been laced with fentanyl. Police are investigating a connection between the drugs and an area drug dealer considered to be “low-level.”

The outbreak has resulted in over 40 overdoses in the last week, including several that took place within the Greene County Jail. Inmates are searched when they are booked into the jail but if the drugs are taken just before arrest or smuggled into the facility, jailers will have to deal with overdoses...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: http://ozarksindependent.com/2019/10/25/fourth-overdose-outbreak-death-reported/


Fourth Overdose Outbreak Death Reported
October 25, 2019 Jason Wert crime, drug overdose, springfield

Another person is dead from the outbreak of drug overdoses in Springfield and Greene County.

The Greene County Medical Examiner’s office reported a woman in her late 40s died Wednesday from a suspected overdose. Her autopsy was completed but the official cause of death is pending toxicology reports.

“We’re seeing an increase this year in deaths from overdoses,” Tom Van De Berg, investigator with the Greene County Medical Examiner’s Office, told OI. “However, despite the current spike, we aren’t seeing a significant rise overall this year in overdoses compared to previous years.”

Van De Berg praised local first responders for their work in saving the lives of those who have overdosed during the recent spike, crediting them with keeping the outbreak from “becoming more severe.”

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott told OI that they believe the recent rash of tainted heroin is coming from local level drug dealers but that the drug itself is coming in from Mexico. The investigation is continuing into the location of the local level dealers.

The DEA is working with local law enforcement to find the dealers...