Allison said to use heroin

Lynn police confirmed to the Globe last night that Florida Marlins first-round draft choice Jeff Allison has not been charged but is still being investigated after spending three days at Union Hospital in Lynn last week because of a heroin overdose.

Lynn police Lieutenant Dennis Flynn said police will continue to investigate.

Allison, 19, a star pitcher for Peabody High, was the 16th overall pick in last year's draft and received a $1.85 million signing bonus from the Marlins. He was hospitalized after he and a friend split a bag of heroin July 17, according to Lieutenant John Scannell, public information officer for the Lynn police.

Scannell told the media that police found out about Allison's overdose when they were at Union Hospital on another matter when he was brought in.

The friend, Jimmy Leontakianakos, told police he passed out in a car on Rockaway Street in Lynn. When he woke up, he noticed that Allison was having trouble breathing and then drove Allison to Union Hospital, police said.

Allison was released Tuesday.

Allison got off to a rocky start with the Marlins this year after reporting late to training camp. Then in May he left their minor league camp without permission. The Marlins put him on the restricted list, stopping salary payments and making him inactive.

During this year's MIAA high school baseball playoffs, which Allison attended, he acknowledged that he had a problem with the painkiller OxyContin.

Material from Associated Press was used in this report.