Two brands of heroin are responsible for six known overdose deaths in the past three weeks, according to Delaware officials, and there is fear more could be on the way.

The fatal blend of drugs has yet to be determined, but the same brand or stamp on heroin bags have been found at six separate deaths – five in New Castle County and one in Sussex County, officials said.

Officials did not cite the stamps on the deadly drugs – experts say this can cause a spike or uptick in sales for those selling the lethal blend of heroin.

"Very often, it is a calling card for us and certainly builds the brand loyalty," said Special Agent Patrick Trainor, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration Philadelphia office.

The state Department of Health and Social Services has urged family members and those struggling with addiction to obtain the overdose antidote, naloxone, or seek immediate treatment after the string of deaths.

“While the Division of Forensic Science determines the particular chemical makeup of the substances involved in these deaths, it is critical that people be aware of the dangers,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary for the state Health Department.

Under the Good Samaritan law, people are protected from legal ramifications when reporting overdoses in the state, and officials stressed the importance of calling quickly. Naloxone should be used within three to five minutes of an opiate-related overdose, which essentially shuts down the respiratory system.

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The string of deaths brings this year's death toll from drug-related overdoses to 125 statewide, according to the health officials. Last year, Delaware logged 308 overdoses.

But officials are hopeful that legislation signed into effect last week to increase access to naloxone will help stem the tide of deaths ravaging both Delaware and this country.

The new law allows Delawareans to purchase naloxone at participating pharmacies after receiving instructions on how to use the medication and signing an acknowledgment form. Residents can expect to see the overdose-reversing drug in pharmacies by the end of the summer, according to state officials.

In the meantime, residents can obtain naloxone from Brandywine Counseling & Community Services, which offers a needle exchange program through the Division of Public Health, or attend a community naloxone training class from the counseling center.

“Naloxone saves lives,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the state Division of Public Health.

In the first half of this year, emergency responders have used the medication on 866 people, she added.

Because heroin is also being mixed with other substances such as fentanyl, multiple doses of naloxone can be required to reverse an overdose. Last year, fentanyl – considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin – was detected in 109 of the 308 fatal overdoses, according to the state.

“Too many times, our police officers and other first responders see firsthand the dangers of fentanyl-related overdoses,” Walker said. “Our first priority is to save lives.”

The high rate at which emergency responders encounter fentanyl has also prompted police departments such as the Delaware State Police and New Castle County to take further precautions, too. New Castle County police K-9 officers now carry naloxone not only for the public but for their four-legged partners, as well.

"We have to take further precautions to make sure officers are safe," said Officer First Class JP Piser, a spokesman for the department. "If we're having K-9s sniffing around a vehicle or a home and they get a big whiff of raw heroin or fentanyl, that could kill them."

The county department also keeps naloxone at all drug processing tables within police headquarters, as well as with its narcotics unit, he said. Because fentanyl, a white powdery substance that resembles heroin, can be absorbed through the skin or breathed in, officers need to be prepared and have received additional training on how to recognize signs of an overdose on themselves, Piser added.

Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale with the Delaware State Police said troopers are taking similar precautions when processing crime scenes. As is protocol with every drug investigation, police use evidence at a crime scene to link incidents together.

Cellphones recovered at crime scenes can also help lead investigators to a potential dealer or put together the last moments before a person's death, Trainor said.

"It is a very dangerous time to be someone who is struggling with substance abuse disorder," he said.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.

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