Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters warns residents that the cocaine or methamphetamine circulating northeastern Pennsylvania may contain fentanyl. Indeed, Pennsylvania has many programs to combat addictions, but these services are often too late if an overdose is lethal. In fact, 12 people in neighboring Luzerne County died in the past three months.
Peters issued the warning after Luzerne County officials held a news conference on a recent uptick in fatal overdoses driven by fentanyl finding its way into other drugs in Pennsylvania and other states without users’ knowledge. Families know the message from law enforcement means business. Too many have already died by accident. Be wary that any street drug contains fentanyl.
The DA’s Warning
As referrals for crisis care rise, Peters’ warning hits people who use cocaine because they believe it’s safer than other drugs. “Those who think they are buying cocaine because it is less likely to result in an overdose, may unintentionally ingest what is instead cocaine mixed with deadly fentanyl, a tiny amount of which can result in death,” Peters relayed.
His second warning explains why the blend is everywhere.
“Assume that any drug you buy on the street will contain fentanyl because it is inexpensive to produce and adds bulk to increase the weight of any substance and therefore its profitability to traffickers.”
No cocaine-fentanyl mixture has been confirmed in Wyoming County yet. But Peters and Wyoming County Coroner Collin Lunger agree that its spread is hard to track. The two run an information-sharing program on suspicious deaths so officials can trace supply sources and catch new drug trends early enough to warn the community.
“The drug trafficking cartels don’t care if you die, but we do.”
Defining Fentanyl & Risks
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 100x deadlier than morphine. A quantity the size of a few grains of salt can kill, even when mixed with other stuff. Fentanyl addiction and overdose risk aren’t limited to people who seek opioids. A growing number of fentanyl deaths involve folks who thought they were using cocaine, meth or a counterfeit prescription pill.
Fentanyl exposure can look like an opioid overdose: pinpoint pupils, slow or stopped breathing, unresponsiveness, and blue lips or fingertips. Naloxone (Narcan) reverses it if given in time, and multiple doses may be needed for fentanyl. Longer term, signs of addiction include escalating use, secrecy, money problems, changes in sleep and withdrawal from family life.
Free Protection Available in Wyoming County
Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are available free through Wyoming County. Anyone can call the Wyoming County Courthouse to request test strips or Narcan for pickup or mail delivery at no charge.
Test strips check whether a drug sample contains fentanyl. Narcan saves lives when an overdose happens anyway.
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