Chesterfield County police are searching for answers and a possible connection between five overdose deaths in three days as the region continues to roil with the effects of unrelenting opioid addiction. “We’re actively investigating to see if there’s a direct correlation to the source of the heroin,” said Chesterfield police Maj. Frank Carpenter. “There’s probably some kind of nexus to a specific source.” “We are extremely concerned because we’re not sure if it’s coming from a specific source or it’s a bad batch of heroin coming to the area,” he said. “We want to get the message to the community ... so they won’t become a victim.” “I really want to get the message out that there’s some dangerous stuff out there,” Carpenter said. Three of the dead were men, and two were women. One of the men was in his 50s, another in his 20s. The three other people who died were either in their 30s or around age 30. Each of the five people was pronounced dead by police at the scene. Four of the five bodies were found in homes, and one at a business.
Chesterfield police have responded to 167 apparent opioid overdoses this year, 26 of them fatal. Those numbers include the five from Friday through Sunday. That is a larger number of total overdoses than was reported by Chesterfield police during the same period last year, but the number of fatal overdoses in Chesterfield has decreased this year. In Richmond, the number of apparent opioid overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, has decreased this year, according to statistics from the city police. overdoses last year, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield had 220 overdose deaths last year, accounting for 18 percent of the statewide death toll. Statewide, more than 1,220 people died of opioid
Carpenter declined to identify the five people or the business, citing the ongoing investigation.
Carpenter said Chesterfield police contacted authorities in Henrico County and Richmond after the deaths to see if they also had seen an increase in overdoses over the weekend.
Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield had 220 overdose deaths last year, accounting for 18 percent of the statewide death toll.
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