In a troubling trend, overdose deaths have continued to skyrocket across the Charlotte region.
According to CMPD, Mecklenburg County has seen a 20% increase in overdose-related fatalities in 2023, reporting 137 deaths compared to 114 in the same period of 2022.
CMPD’s Vice Unit has already confiscated 30 kilograms of what is believed to be fentanyl and almost 84,000 pills – that’s enough fentanyl to kill 15 million people, or every single person in Charlotte 13 times over.
So far in 2023, CMPD’s VICE Unit has seized approximately 30 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, that is enough to kill 15 million people. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. VICE has also seized more than 84,000 suspected fentanyl pills. pic.twitter.com/VcC3zrELNR
— CMPD News (@CMPD) August 21, 2023
During this week’s press briefing in west Charlotte, CMPD Major Luke Sell cautioned the public about the discreet presence of this drug and highlighted that fentanyl is being mixed into other prescription pills.
“Fentanyl is being disguised and sold to our teens and young users as pills for anxiety or to help concentrate and study, specifically Xanax, Percocet and Adderall,” said Major Sell. “These users have no idea that their pills were mixed with fentanyl. You can’t see, smell or taste fentanyl. We really want to emphasize that unless it comes from your pharmacy or your doctor, you cannot trust the safety of any pill.”
North Carolina recently changed several laws related to opioid overdoses to help curb the epidemic, including changing Naloxone (opioid overdose suppressant) from prescription to ‘over the counter’, as well as implementing a new ‘Good Samaritan Law’.
The law essentially protects people who administer Naloxone to someone who has overdosed from any liability.
The following are common signs of an opioid-related overdose;
- Small pupils
- Pale face
- Limp body
- Shallow or slowed breathing
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
If you know anyone who might use heroin or any other opioids, please pick up some Naloxone from your local pharmacist and keep it handy – you never know when it might save someone’s life.
What do you think about CMPD’s response?
What more do you think should be done?