A sign at the airport in Quinhagak, Alaska. Photo by IceCreamForEveryone
A 19-year-old girl died in the Native village of Quinhagak (Kwinhagak) after apparently overdosing on heroin, the Alaska State Troopers confirmed. Jamie Roberts was pronounced dead on Monday after "more than two hours of resuscitative efforts," the troopers wrote in an incident report. She was one of four suspected overdoses in the small Yupik community. "We urge residents in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to be aware that illicit substances being illegally sold are not regulated," the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation said in a public service announcement. "Often, these drugs may not be what they are described to be; dosage and potency are unknown, and users are taking a great risk by using these substances. A user taking an illegal drug could become ill, overdose, or, in some cases, die." Two adult men who also overdosed were medivaced out of the community and released after being treated, KTUU reported. A fourth person was treated on site, KYUK reported. "I mean it pretty much shocked the whole community," Patrick Cleveland, the administrator for the Native Village of Kwinhagak, told KYUK. Read More on the Story:
Teenage girl identified as victim of heroin overdose, Quinhagak officials search for a solution (KTUU 8/18)
Troopers ID 19-year-old dead of suspected heroin overdose in Southwest Alaska village (Alaska Dispatch News 8/18)
Quinhagak responds to a series of apparent heroin overdoses (KYUK 8/17)
Southwest Alaska village sees 3 overdoses, one fatal, in a few hours (Alaska Dispatch News 8/16)
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