Six heroin-related deaths confirmed this year

MANSFIELD – Nine people in Richland County have died from drug overdoses so far this year, with six being heroin-related.

Tom Stortz, investigator at the Richland County Coroner's Office, said toxicology reports from the beginning of 2015 through March showed some deaths were caused by heroin alone while others were caused by a mix of heroin and another drug, such as heroin and cocaine or heroin and fentanyl.

The number of deaths caused by heroin overdoses does not include the three who were found dead Friday. Richland County sheriff's officials believe those three also were heroin-related.

There was a total of 29 drug overdoses in 2014, with 17 deaths caused by heroin or a cocktail of heroin and another drug, according to the annual report from the Richland County Coroner's Office.

A family member of one of Friday's three victims suggested that one of the men involved in the cases died from a heart attack, according to a Facebook message from the family member.

Maj. Joe Masi, of the Richland County Sheriff's Office, said evidence found at the scene suggested an overdose in all three cases. Stortz said the official cause of death cannot be determined until the toxicology report comes back. Those reports are normally not completed for a period of weeks.

Masi checked reports from during the weekend, saying there were no other overdoses in the area.

Anyone with information on the three current cases can call the Richland County Sheriff's Office at 419-774-5881 or METRICH at 419-755-9728.

Addicts looking for help can visit the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website, mha.ohio.gov.

dhess@gannett.com

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Twitter: @dhessnj