The Fort Worth Police Department has issued a warning about a rise in overdoses tied to fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, in and around Fort Worth.
The area has recently seen an overall rise in opioid overdoses. The Fort Worth-based ambulance service MedStar reports that from March of last year to March of this year, first responders treated 258 people for opioid overdoses — up more than 50% from the same period a year before.
Fort Worth Police report a substantial increase in illicit distribution and possession of fentanyl.
Officer Jermy Prescott, who works on a task force that targets opioids, said that could be connected to the rise in overdoses. He warns about so-called cloned pills that have fentanyl in them but look a lot like real oxycodone pills.
"Our warning to people that are buying these pills, is that if you’re buying these pills and not getting them issued from a pharmacy, you are more than likely buying pills that contain fentanyl," he said.
Prescott said for those struggling with addiction, it's a good idea to keep the opioid overdose-reversing drug Narcan on hand.
Got a tip? Email Miranda Suarez at msuarez@kera.org. You can follow Miranda on Twitter @MirandaRSuarez.
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