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Salem Police Captain: Narcan Being Administered 'Almost On A Daily Basis'

SALEM (CBS) -- There have been 15 overdoses in March so far in the city of Salem, part of a disturbing spike seen all across the North Shore.

"What's out there isn't just heroin, it's heroin mixed with other things, and it's causing people to overdose," said Salem Police Captain Conrad Prosniewski. "Narcan is being administered almost on a daily basis."

Prosniewski said that, over the weekend, twin sisters overdosed--and first responders had to administer Narcan to one of them ten times in order to keep her alive.

He says the problem is that the drugs are so cheap.

"For five bucks, you don't know what you're buying out on the street," said Prosniewski. "It's cheaper than a six-pack of beer, and it can kill you, because they're putting other things besides, and God knows what it is."

Three people have died from heroin overdoses in Salem so far this year.

"And without the Narcan, you can probably safely say that we would have had a lot more," said Prosniewski.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

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