Heroin, Fentanyl Mix Linked to Philip Seymour Hoffman Overdose

By Tracy Manzer, Senior Editor
Investigators have confirmed there is a possibility that Philip Seymour Hoffman, the much-acclaimed actor who was found dead in a Greenwich Village apartment Sunday from an apparent drug overdose, may have succumbed to a particularly deadly brand of heroin laced with the staggeringly powerful opioid called fentanyl.

Drug experts say fentanyl is far more potent than morphine and much more powerful than heroin, and authorities throughout the Northeast have reportedly said they have seen a rash of fatal overdoses in recent months attributed to the new brand of drug.

According to an article that ran recently in the Baltimore Sun, “The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Friday that 37 Marylanders had died since September of overdoses after taking the drug mixture. The deaths accounted for 12 percent of 318 overdose deaths in the past four months. The deaths have raised concerns because fentanyl, a painkiller used by cancer patients and chronic pain suffers, greatly increases the risk of death from overdose, state health officials said. It is estimated to be 80 times more powerful than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

The article goes on to state that the combination of the two drugs is so dangerous that it can result in death, sometimes within mere minutes of a dose. Though Hoffman’s death remains under investigation, authorities in New York confirmed that they were looking into the possibility that Hoffman was using this new brand, or combination, of heroin.

Fentanyl-related deaths have been reported throughout Maryland, including Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore and Central Maryland, according to state health officials. Areas along the Interstate 95 corridor, including Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, as well as states as far away as Washington, have also reported deaths, according to the CDC.

The locations of the deaths does not necessarily indicate where the drug originated, which is what law enforcement needs to know to stop the flow of the contraband. That information, however, is valuable for drug addiction counselors, who can target their prevention work and advocacy accordingly.

The message is already out in Maryland, and other nearby regions ravaged by the drug. Enforcement is likely to be swift and not far behind. While the threat of such a potent cocktail is undeniable, one would hope that the matter does not turn into an excuse to criminalize addicts suffering from a serious medical condition. If you have recently been charged with a drug-related offense and need help, click here to schedule a free case evaluation.