Single Indiana block sees 27 overdoses in 24 hours

Emergency responders have been working tirelessly after one Indiana block observed dozens of overdoses in just a 24-hour timeframe, according to the Indy Channel.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services have responded to at least 27 reported overdoses in the area surrounding the 500 block of East Market Street since Wednesday morning.

According to Steve Kerr, director of development of the Wheeler Men's Mission homeless shelter, 15 of the drug overdose victims were residents of the refuge and least one of them had to be placed on life support.

The Indy Channel reports that detectives believe a tainted batch of synthetic drugs might have something to do with the mass overdoses.

In November 2017, the city of Indianapolis filed a federal lawsuit against several opioid makers and distributors, claiming that drug companies were to blame for the city's growing opioid epidemic.

The suit alleges that drug companies used deceptive marketing campaigns to fuel the crisis, allowing them to collect "blockbuster profits."

"Opioids are killing Americans. Opioids are killing Hoosiers," said Mayor Joe Hogsett during an October press conference announcing the lawsuit. "Opioids are killing our neighbors right here throughout the city of Indianapolis."

The lawsuit added Indianapolis to a list of hundreds of cities and states that have pursued similar action, including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Delaware and Oklahoma.