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Police report spike in St. Paul overdoses

Investigators first noticed the unusual number of overdoses Dec. 27 when a computer database that maps suspected overdoses sent officers an alert of an increase.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Authorities say St. Paul police have reported 34 suspected drug overdoses, including two that were fatal, in the past week alone.

KARE news partner Minnesota Public Radio News reported Friday that the number is remarkable because police consider more than seven overdoses in a day concerning.

St. Paul police Sgt. Jamie Sipes says most of the overdoses involved counterfeit Xanax or heroin.

Sipes said police first noticed the unusual number of overdoses Dec. 27 when a computer database that maps suspected overdoses sent officers an alert of an increase.

"If they are transported to the hospital, because of HIPAA laws, we don't find out a lot of information about that situation," Sipes said, referring to the law that shields patient information from the public.

The most recent suspected overdoses reported to police occurred all across the city, making it harder to uncover a connection via dealer or drug supply.

Many of the suspected overdoses required numerous doses of Narcan, also known by the generic name naloxone. It's a medication that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose. Almost 50,000 people die each year by opioid overdoses in the United States.

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