Five suspected heroin overdoses in February have prompted the Centre County Drug Task Force to launch an investigation into the local use and distribution of the drug.

The death of a 17-year-old male and a near-fatal overdose by a 22-year-old Penn State student are both being attributed to a suspected heroin brand named "Too Strong," Drug Task Force Coordinator Scott Merrill said.

Merrill said the task force has not confirmed that the substance is definitely heroin, but if it is, the "Too Strong" label could be a very pure form of heroin.

"We're asking anyone with any information with regards to heroin or any other drug to contact the Centre County Drug Tip Line," Merrill said.

Last Thursday, the tip line received an anonymous call from a woman, according to a press release from the agency.

The caller's information about the 17-year-old's overdose gave the agency reason to believe she might have "critical information" in its investigation into the teenager's overdose. The department is requesting that the woman re-contact the task force.

The young man died Feb. 21, shortly after taking heroin from a bag with the "Too Strong" label, according to a release from the agency. Three days later, the Penn State student overdosed Feb. 24, after ingesting drugs from a bag with the same name.

On Thursday, the Centre County Chiefs of Police will sponsor a workshop to discuss the increased use of heroin in the area.

The conference is intended "to elicit support, comments and ideas from an assembly of professionals charged with maintaining the safety and well being of our communities," according to a release from the Ferguson Township Police Department.

Local law enforcement, emergency medical administrators, school and government officials will meet with discussion facilitators from the state attorney general's office and area police departments.

"Unfortunately, we have seen other communities around us suffer through long battles with illegal drugs," Ferguson Township Police Department Chief Edward Connor wrote in his letter to local officials. "We need to decide if we're going to do something about the problems we are experiencing or stand by and watch as our community's quality of life deteriorates."

Those with any information about the distribution of heroin, the "Too Strong" label, or anything related to this investigation are asked to call the Centre County Drug Tip Line at (877) 898-DRUG. All calls are confidential and callers can provide information anonymously.