BETHEL — Alaska State Troopers are investigating four reports of apparent heroin overdoses, including one fatal, that came one after another in the southwestern Alaska village of Quinhagak.
Troopers spokesman Tim Despain on Wednesday told KYUK-AM that the deceased was a 19-year-old woman. She was not immediately identified, and authorities have not released information on the other three people.
Patrick Cleveland, Quinhagak’s tribal administrator, said the series of overdoses began Monday night after the first person was found unresponsive and had to be revived with CPR.
He said the incidents have “pretty much shocked the whole community.”
A meeting in the 700-person village was held Wednesday to discuss the overdoses.
“I hope people get a sense of hope and fearlessness, because that’s what’s driving these drugs to run amok in our villages,” said meeting organizer Michelle Matthew. “Because people are afraid to speak up, and now we are.”
Matthew, who works for the city of Quinhagak, said the tribe is revisiting plans to implement extra security measures at the city’s airport.
