Heroin overdoses on the rise in Wilmington

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police said they responded to ten heroin overdoses calls over the weekend.

Wilmington Police spokeswoman, Linday Rawley, said that’s about the same number of reported overdoses in all of 2014.

All of the users survived, but not all overdoses are reported to police so there could be more.

Police said they’re concerned about the growing number of heroin sales, arrests, and overdoses.

“The heroin market is growing,” said Linda Rawley. “The trade is here. People are using a lot of heroin. We are making a lot of heroin arrests. And so I believe it is supply and demand. People are using more.”

Medical experts said when overdoses are on the rise, it could mean inexperienced and recreational users can’t handle the strength of the drugs on the street.