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Berks County DA asks public for help amid spike in overdoses

At least five people have been arrested in connection with the overdoses.

  • Julia Agos/WITF
FILE PHOTO: This Aug. 29, 2018, file photo shows an arrangement of Oxycodone pills in New York.

 Mark Lennihan / AP Photo

FILE PHOTO: This Aug. 29, 2018, file photo shows an arrangement of Oxycodone pills in New York.

(Reading) – Several arrests have been made in connection to a recent spike in opioid-related overdoses in Berks County. The county has experienced at least 101 drug-related incidents and one death since Saturday.

Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said there have been an “astronomical” number of recent overdoses in West Reading Borough and the City of Reading. He issued a health alert Monday in response to the spike.

At least five people have been arrested in connection with the overdoses. He notes one common factor among the incidents: blue glossy paper bags that have been used to distribute the drugs.

The most common substances include heroin, fentanyl and xylazine, which is often used by veterinarians to sedate horses.

“The blue bags seem to … contain the substances that are causing all of the overdoses in our community,” Adams said.

During a raid Tuesday morning, the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force found approximately 250 blue glassine packets each containing suspected heroin/fentanyl, 100 packets of crack cocaine, a fully loaded sawed-off shotgun, two-way handheld portable radios, and over $16,000 in cash.

“We, as law enforcement, are combating this epidemic that has plagued our community with every resource available to us. However, we also need your help. It is critical that the community remain vigilant and check on family and friends who may be using these dangerous drugs,” Adams said.

Adams is encouraging anyone with information to call Crime Alert Berks at 877-373-9913.

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