Heroin plus pain killer proves to be a lethal combo

According to health officials and the Chicago police a deadly combination of heroin and a prescription pain killer has resulted in one death and 21 others becoming ill.

As Chicago battles with a proliferation of drug incidences the addition of the drug fentanyl, commonly used to treat cancer patients, to batches of heroin has seen a rash of overdoses with 15 people ending up in hospital.

It is believed the overdoses are being caused by drug dealers who are handing out for free the drug and heroin combo to anybody on the street, which presents a serious health hazard.

The Fire Department say the situation has existed for as long as four weeks and over-doses are now a common and almost daily occurrence.

Police have apparently found hundreds of hypodermic needles suspected of being used by some of the people who overdosed at a local garage which was being used as a shooting gallery.

To date no arrests have been made but three people are being questioned by police in connection to the overdoses.

Last month, 25 people overdosed on fentanyl-tainted heroin on the South Side of the city and one woman later died.