Two men facing drug charges after rash of heroin overdoses

Heroin, once praised as miracle drug by itself, is now mixed with the powerful painkiller Fentanyl and it is catching drug users by surprise – as shown by the unexpected Chicago overdoses.

After a shocking report of 74 heroin overdoses in Chicago in 72 hours from possibly tainted batches, two reputed gang members were arrested on drug charges.

A sample of the heroin recovered by Chicago police may have been laced with fentanyl, authorities said.

More than 70 people across Chicago were treated for heroin overdoses within a span of three days last week, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Health experts have always weighed in to stop taking heroin, but still rates of heroin overdose are increasing rapidly.

Diane Hicks, a registered nurse and emergency room director at Mount Sinai, told the Tribune that a few of the 14 patients at the hospital had collapsed as soon as they injected themselves with the deadly concoction. Police were also looking into whether or not the apparent fatal overdose of a 49-year-old man in East Garfield Park could have been due to fentanyl-laced heroin. When fentanyl is used properly in medical scenarios, it is used to treat chronic pain and is often paired with an opiate such as morphine.

Earlier this year, in March, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a nationwide alert about the new cocktail, which has been found in several states, The Associated Press reported.

Sylvester was arrested Saturday and appeared at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Sunday on charges of possession of heroin with the intent to deliver and aggravated fleeing and eluding police, both felonies, prosecutors said.

The arrested persons are 24-year-old Alfonzo Sylvester and 26-year-old Mario Wofford.

Wofford was arrested Friday, charged with possession with intent to deliver and held on a $10,000 signature bond because he had no history of violent crime, according to the Chicago Tribune.