ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 16, 1996 TAG: 9607160069
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
OD prods demand for too-potent heroin
NEW YORK - In a macabre twist, the highly potent heroin brand blamed for the overdose death last week of a backup musician touring with the alternative rock group Smashing Pumpkins is suddenly more popular, a police official said Monday.
``[The overdose] is sort of a quality test for the purity of the drug,'' said Capt. Denis McCarthy, commanding officer of New York Police Department's Downtown Narcotics District. ``Now ... they feel that this drug has got the best high. People go out to look for that brand.''
Keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, 34, died Friday of an apparent heroin overdose after he injected Red Rum brand in a Manhattan hotel room. One band member, whom police sources identified as drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, also injected the brand and survived. Chamberlin has been charged with misdemeanor heroin possession.
``What we're trying to do is put out the word that this stuff is dangerous,'' McCarthy said. ``It's of high potency. It's meant to be snorted. Certainly don't shoot it; and if at all possible, don't even use the stuff.''
Since Friday, police have arrested five people in possession of Red Rum. Tests of six bags of Red Rum revealed that the brand is up to 70 percent pure and indicative of a new trend in heroin distribution: a rise in the popularity of snorting, rather than injecting, the drug.
McCarthy said police had been recovering heroin that tested at 40 percent purity.
- Newsday
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB