Community Advisory for Increase in Overdose Deaths with both Cocaine and Fentanyl in System
Press
Release
January 17,
2018
Contact
Kelli Newman
Myers
Columbus Public Health
614-645-7213
[email protected]
Community Advisory for Increase in Overdose
Deaths with both Cocaine and Fentanyl in System
Trend Highlights that Fentanyl can be found
in any Recreational Street Drug
Columbus
Public Health is issuing a community advisory to notify the public of an increase
in overdose deaths with cocaine and fentanyl. This trend highlights that
fentanyl can be mixed with all recreational street drugs, including cocaine,
meth and heroin.
According to
death certificate data, 30 percent of all overdose deaths of Franklin County
residents had both cocaine and fentanyl in their system at the time of
death. The number of deaths that involved both cocaine and fentanyl has
more than doubled from 41 to 88 deaths from 2016-2017.
People using
cocaine may be exposed to more drug substances than they thought, and should be
aware of the high possibility for overdose and death with fentanyl.
Because
fentanyl is being mixed with any street drug and not just opiates, public
health officials advise recreational drug users, residents affected by
substance use disorders, and their family and friends to follow our
recommendations to reduce harm and death.
If you are
using any street drugs:
- Get
naloxone, a drug which reverses the effects of an overdose.
- Be
aware of the dangers of mixing drugs including stimulants.
- Layering
or stacking drugs will not prevent an overdose.
- Do
not use drugs alone.
- Seek
treatment.
If you have a
family member or friend who is using drugs:
- Get
naloxone.
- If
you administer naloxone, call 9-1-1.
- If
you don’t have naloxone, administer CPR.
- Encourage
your loved one to seek treatment.
“Fentanyl can
be mixed with any street drug and the user may not even know it is in there,”
says Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts. “If you are using any
substance, you don’t really know what you’re getting. Fentanyl can be mixed
with it – and it can kill you. If you are using any illicit substance, have
naloxone on hand.”
For more
information on the opiate epidemic and the Franklin County Opiate Action Plan,
please click here.
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