ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland had a 33 percent increase in drug overdose deaths in the first quarter of this year.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released a new report on Thursday that shows the increase over the same period last year is being driven by fentanyl-laced heroin.
The report says there were 252 total drug overdose deaths from January to March, and 148 are related to heroin.
The state also has seen a big increase in heroin-related emergency department visits in recent years. There were 1,200 in Maryland last year, compared to 871 in 2012.
Gov. Martin O'Malley created a state Overdose Prevention Council last month to address the rising problem.
The O'Malley administration has set a goal of reducing overdose deaths by 20 percent by 2015.
Delaware Heroin Arrest
DeAngelo McGlotten was arrested last night with 13-hundred bags of heroin.
The 28 year old Millsboro man has been charged with possession, possession with the intent of distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was taken into custody at around 8:30 p.m. last night in the parking lot of T.G.I. Friday's on South DuPont Highway in Dover.
Police say he has been held on $41,000 cash bail.
