Mass. police warn about "Hollywood" heroin linked to 5 deaths

BOSTON - Officials in Massachusetts said Monday that a type of heroin labeled "Hollywood" is responsible for five deaths in less than two days, reports CBS Boston.

The Springfield, Mass., police department said it seized 9000 bags of the heroin along with $20,000 this past weekend.

While the seized Hollywood heroin is still being tested, officials have theorized that it's laced with a synthetic opiate called fentanyl.

"It operates much more quickly, shutting breathing down, relaxing the nervous system, shutting down the respiratory system, slowing down the pulse," said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early. "Like we say with heroin, there's no quality control. There's no quality control and it can be deadly."

Early noted that Massachusetts' Good Samaritan Law allows witnesses to an overdose to call the police and not risk being charged with drug possession.