Overdose Deaths Continue In New Bedford

The body count in New Bedford continues to rise because of what officials say is an opioid abuse crisis in the city.

Detective Captain Steven Vicente says so far in September, there have been six fatal overdoses in the city. There were seven in August.

Vicente says many addicts on the street believe that first responders will show up with the drug Narcan to keep them alive.

"Narcan is out there and its great that its being used, but at the end of the day, you can't give Narcan to yourself," said Vicente. "If you're alone and using heroin there may not be somebody there to save you, or get there in time."

He says police, firefighters and EMS personnel are responding to overdose calls everyday. Vicente recalls he last saw this type of heroin abuse during the summer of 2012 or so, but this crisis is more prolonged and is very deadly.