A dangerous, highly potent strain of heroin carrying a ‘Game of Thrones’ logo has been making the rounds in Vermont and New Hampshire, where it has caused nearly a dozen overdoses, health officials say.
At least nine people in Barre and one in Newport, Vermont who used the drug had to be revived with naloxene, an opioid-reversal medicine, reports TIME. A 43-year-old woman in Barre died from what officials believe to be an overdose from this heroin strain.
The Department of Health in Vermont warns that this specific strain of heroin is likely laced with fentanyl, which makes it 50 times more potent, thus deadlier. Fentanyl is an opioid similar to morphine, but is from 50 to 100 times stronger, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The drug is commonly used to treat severe pain in patients.
With this strain, instead of taking one dose, it’s like taking 50 doses at once.
Bags containing the powered-up heroin are being passed around with the name of the popular HBO show on it, which may be making it more attractive to users.
Aside from recent cases of drug overdoses in Vermont, the drug was also linked to the overdose of a 32-year-old man in Lebanon, New Hampshire Friday, who had to be revived by emergency personnel. Packets of ‘Game of Thrones’ heroin were found at the victim’s home.
The incident led to the arrest of two alleged dealers, including Brock Richardson, 30, according to the Lebanon Police Department. Richardson has been charged with two counts of sale of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, and possession of a narcotic drug, WCVB reports.
Police Chief Richard Mello warned in a statement against the drug, saying, “Anytime you take a needle and you ingest heroin or fentanyl in any method, you’re putting your life on the line.”
