New wave of drug overdoses hits Akron area; at least 8 dead

Associated Press

AKRON

Akron is experiencing a new spike in deadly heroin overdoses.

Authorities say at least eight deaths this weekend in the Akron area could be from overdoses.

There also have been dozens of other confirmed or possible overdoses. Police say a man was seriously burned after crashing his truck after a suspected overdose.

Emergency personnel responded to apparent overdoses in restaurant drive-thrus, on sidewalks and in homes around the city.

Authorities suspect that the heroin responsible was laced with the painkiller fentanyl or the powerful animal tranquilizer carfentanil.

Akron police said there were more than 90 overdoses and eight deaths during a July spike. Carfentanil was found in syringes used by casualties of the July spike.