Cincinnati is currently facing an unprecedented drug emergency.

RS1704_000006429624
loading...

The problem is spreading through out the Midwest according to ABCNews.com,

Officials in several states are scrambling to deal with a series of heroin overdose outbreaks affecting dozens of people and involving at least six deaths.

The spikes in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia over the past few days have seen rescue workers rushing from scene to scene to provide overdose antidote drugs.

Heroin laced with an animal tranquilizer is likely the cause according to Cincinnati.com,

Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco said Friday that she might have found a way: She hopes to have a sample of the large-animal opioid carfentanil by next week, so local officials will have a sample to compare and a way to identify if the drug is involved in the local overdoses.

She said Summit County, which has suffered deaths from carfentanil-laced heroin, has offered to provide a sample. The drug is a mega-potent opioid, intended for animals including elephants. The carfentanil now on the streets as heroin has been largely manufactured overseas, narcotics agents say, shipped to Mexico or Canada and moved to other locales such as Ohio.

With 78 Overdoses in 2 days and 174 in less than a week, this is a terrifying emergency.  We'll keep you up to date on this situation as more information is released.

More From WKFR