String of overdoses cause stores to use customer-only bathroom policy

ATLANTA — Local shops and restaurants say they are enforcing their customer only bathroom policies after a local man overdosed in a Starbucks bathroom.
 
This is the fourth suspected overdose in the Little Five Points area since April.
 
On Wednesday, Atlanta police were called to the Starbucks on Moreland Avenue to a suspected overdose.
 
When the officer arrived, he says he found 28-year-old Trevor Muething in the bathroom with needles and heroin.
 
Muething was arrested on heroin possession charges and transferred to the hospital.
 
Experts say heroin use is on the rise across the area. Store employees around the Little Five Points area say junkies will find wherever they can to shoot up.
 
"They will fall asleep in there or sometimes OD in there. We've had to call the ambulance a few times, we've had to drag a few people out, it is an epidemic around here, everywhere for sure," said Matthew King, who is the manager at Savage Pizza. "I had a guy with needles in his hand and asked if he could use the restroom.  Of course I said no. He said I will leave the needles here. I said no I don't want to hold your needles."
 
"I'm not surprised there is a lot of drug activity here in the Little Five Points area," floral shop owner Larry Hammack told Channel 2's Rachel Stockman. "It is not going to stop them. Arresting unfortunately does not stop them." 
 
The location now requires customers to enter a code to use the restroom.
 
"We are aware of this unfortunate incident and will support local authorities with their investigation however we can.  We continue to place the safety of our customers and partners (employees) as a top priority," said a representative for Starbucks.

WSBTV