Heroin use is up in the county, the Boulder County Drug Task Force reported today.

The task force says that, according to police reports and records from the Boulder County Coroner, that since Oct. 1, 2006:

• Five heroin related deaths, four in the city of Boulder and one in Longmont.
  
  
• Two heroin related overdoses where the users were revived and treated in Boulder.
  
  
• Three patrol arrests involving heroin use in public restrooms in Boulder.
  
  
• 16 heroin related reports or incidents reported to the Boulder Police Department.

Commander Steve Prentup said many of the cases are "speedballs," that is heroin combined with cocaine, a dangerous practice that dramatically increases a chance of an overdose death. It was the lethal combination that took the life of actor/comedian John Belushi.

In two of the overdose deaths in Boulder County, a combination of heroin and cocaine was found in the victim’s system, Prentup said.

To report information regarding heroin in Boulder, call the task force at 303-441-1690 or Crimestoppers of Boulder County at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776.