32-year-old Troy Wright of Chesterton and 31-year-old Daniel Leggitt, also of Porter County, dead at 11:30 p.m. Monday at a house on 29 Sunset St.
"We did find what appeared to be listed substances and syringes" in the house, Porter County Coroner Victoria Deppe said. "My fear is we have two young males who were using the same stash of drugs and that makes me very worried there's something" with which the drugs have been mixed.
The Porter County Coroner's Office is conducting toxicology tests. The Porter County Narcotics Task Force has submitted evidence for quantitative testings and to test for foreign substances that may have contributed to the deaths.
Porter County Sheriff David Lain said the incident is reminiscent of a period a few years ago, when heroin laced with fentanyl -- a narcotic 80 times as powerful as heroin -- caused a spike in deaths.
From April 2005 to August 2006, more than 200 deaths were linked to fentanyl-laced heroin overdoses in Cook County, Ill. An increase in fentanyl deaths was also reported in Detroit, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware.
Lain stressed only test results will tell whether the Porter County overdoses constitute an isolated incident or the start of another wave of a dangerous mix.
"Was this an incident where, because of the potency of the drug itself, was that what caused the lethality or was it something they used to cut it?" Lain said. "Right now, we have no way of knowing if that's the case. That's why we're awaiting those toxicology tests."
Local and federal drug task forces are working to find out who supplied the drugs.
Police urge people get help for loved ones whom they believe are addicted to illegal or prescription drugs.
"Until we can find a way to reduce the demand for these drugs, people will continue to seek them," Porter County Police said in a statement
"We did find what appeared to be listed substances and syringes" in the house, Porter County Coroner Victoria Deppe said. "My fear is we have two young males who were using the same stash of drugs and that makes me very worried there's something" with which the drugs have been mixed.
The Porter County Coroner's Office is conducting toxicology tests. The Porter County Narcotics Task Force has submitted evidence for quantitative testings and to test for foreign substances that may have contributed to the deaths.
Porter County Sheriff David Lain said the incident is reminiscent of a period a few years ago, when heroin laced with fentanyl -- a narcotic 80 times as powerful as heroin -- caused a spike in deaths.
From April 2005 to August 2006, more than 200 deaths were linked to fentanyl-laced heroin overdoses in Cook County, Ill. An increase in fentanyl deaths was also reported in Detroit, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware.
Lain stressed only test results will tell whether the Porter County overdoses constitute an isolated incident or the start of another wave of a dangerous mix.
"Was this an incident where, because of the potency of the drug itself, was that what caused the lethality or was it something they used to cut it?" Lain said. "Right now, we have no way of knowing if that's the case. That's why we're awaiting those toxicology tests."
Local and federal drug task forces are working to find out who supplied the drugs.
Police urge people get help for loved ones whom they believe are addicted to illegal or prescription drugs.
"Until we can find a way to reduce the demand for these drugs, people will continue to seek them," Porter County Police said in a statement
Danny was a wonderful person. It still boggles my mind that he had a heroin addiction. He was the y I ever sweetest guy I ever knew. This drug is taking over the lives of geat people, and making them into memories. Sad memories. I will carry him in my heart always. R.I.P. Love!
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