Even Cops Are OD-ing on Tainted Heroin
02.18.16
The epidemic sweeping upstate New York is so brutal that the latest alleged overdose comes from Buffalo’s own police department.
The heroin epidemic devastating upstate New York is getting so bad, even the cops are overdosing.
As police struggle to combat opiate abuse in Erie County, one of their own nearly died after allegedly overdosing last week, The Buffalo News reported—a grim testament to the scope of the heroin surge that appears to have no end in sight.
The News identified the officer as Michael R. Moffett, a two-year member of the force who allegedly took heroin at a friend’s home early Friday. Police sources believe Moffett used an especially deadly, fentanyl-laced form of the narcotic.
Moffett, 26, was off-duty when he overdosed, according to the News. Around 3 a.m., his friends noticed something was wrong and flagged down a patrolman, who happened to be driving past the home and would soon save his comrade’s life.
According to the News, the on-duty officer administered at least two doses of Narcan, an opiate antidote, to revive Moffett.
Moffett, who joined the Buffalo Police Department in 2014, was transported to the hospital shortly after. He’s on unpaid medical leave and is under investigation by the force’s Internal Affairs Division, the News reported.
“The department has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, and something like this really is shocking. Right now, we are in shock mode. This is unheard of,” one police officer with knowledge of the incident told the News.
Cont http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/18/even-cops-are-od-ing-on-tainted-heroin.html
02.18.16
The epidemic sweeping upstate New York is so brutal that the latest alleged overdose comes from Buffalo’s own police department.
The heroin epidemic devastating upstate New York is getting so bad, even the cops are overdosing.
As police struggle to combat opiate abuse in Erie County, one of their own nearly died after allegedly overdosing last week, The Buffalo News reported—a grim testament to the scope of the heroin surge that appears to have no end in sight.
The News identified the officer as Michael R. Moffett, a two-year member of the force who allegedly took heroin at a friend’s home early Friday. Police sources believe Moffett used an especially deadly, fentanyl-laced form of the narcotic.
Moffett, 26, was off-duty when he overdosed, according to the News. Around 3 a.m., his friends noticed something was wrong and flagged down a patrolman, who happened to be driving past the home and would soon save his comrade’s life.
According to the News, the on-duty officer administered at least two doses of Narcan, an opiate antidote, to revive Moffett.
Moffett, who joined the Buffalo Police Department in 2014, was transported to the hospital shortly after. He’s on unpaid medical leave and is under investigation by the force’s Internal Affairs Division, the News reported.
“The department has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, and something like this really is shocking. Right now, we are in shock mode. This is unheard of,” one police officer with knowledge of the incident told the News.
Cont http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/18/even-cops-are-od-ing-on-tainted-heroin.html
