'Be Cool' stamps on heroin packets in Easton

Easton police officials say heroin packets stamped with "Be Cool" and "Hotline" were among three types that have killed or sickened people in the past several days. (Photo courtesy of Easton Police Department)

Easton police are warning heroin users about particularly deadly batches of the drug in the community.

Police are investigating three overdoses since Sunday -- two of them fatal, Lt. Matthew Gerould said in a news release. The other two happened Monday and Wednesday, he said.

Easton police officials say heroin packets stamped with "Be Cool" and "Hotline" were among three types that have killed or sickened people in the past several days. (Photo courtesy of Easton Police Department)

Three stamps were linked to the deadly heroin, including "Anthrax" and two with blue lettering: "Be Cool" and "Hotline," he said.

"All heroin is poison and illegal," Gerould said. "For reasons still to be determined, the heroin being sold under these stamps has proven exceptionally deadly in recent days."

It's too early in the investigations to determine if the heroin was laced with another substance, Gerould said.

Police suggest anyone using heroin or other illegal drugs seek medical help and counseling.

"There are many resources available to those fighting addiction," he said.

The police department also reminds residents about the Good Samaritan law, "which allows anyone who witnesses an overdose to contact police without fear of prosecution for drug possession," Gerould said.

Anyone with information on the three overdoses is asked to call the city narcotics unit at 610-250-6644 or the tip line at 610-250-6635.

Heroin has been a growing problem in the Lehigh Valley that authorities say has reached epidemic levels.

In Lehigh County, the coroner's office has investigated 145 confirmed and probable drug-related deaths in 2016 as of Wednesday, said Coroner Scott Grim. He estimates 65 percent of those deaths were opioid- or heroin-related.

The total deaths attributable to drugs set a record, far exceeding 2015's 115 and 2014's 88 in Lehigh County. Grim said he expects to break 150 by the end of this year due to cases already under investigation but not complete.

From Dec. 1-5, 35 people died from apparent overdoses in Philadelphia, mostly in the same police district, philly.com reports. Police responded by making 176 arrests and taking 161 grams of heroin, 1,282 grams of cocaine and various other drugs off the streets, the news website reports. They also got 21 guns and $45,000 in cash, philly.com said.

They targeted the stamps and found what is believed to be fentanyl-laced heroin, philly.com reports.

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have nearly tripled since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2015, there were 52,404 overdose deaths reported, with 33,091 involving opioids, the CDC said.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey were among the 30 states to see an increase in overdose deaths from 2010 to 2015, the CDC said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.