Multiple drug overdose deaths in two Tennessee counties last week have local anti-drug coalition leaders concerned.
“We want people who are at risk to be on guard,” Smith Country Drug Prevention Executive Director Barbara Kannapel said. “It could be the same dealers so it could move to other counties.”
Decatur and Maury Counties recorded multiple overdose deaths last week. Kannapel said one suspected incident in the Upper Cumberland in the last week also has officials concerned.
The overdoses appear to be tied to heroin laced with fentanyl, according to local law enforcement.
“It’s a very deadly synthetic medication that is actually used as a tranquilizer for large animals,” Kannapel said. “It’s very deadly to human beings. But, it’s being used because it’s very inexpensive. A lot of pills can be made with a very small amount of the substance.”
The overdoses last week not a surprise, according to Kannapel, because of the growing number of fentanyl cases reported.
Kannapel said family members need to make those at-risk aware of this present danger. At the same time, the community needs to increase the availability of naloxone, Kannapel said, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can restore normal breathing in a patient who’s breathing has slowed because of opioids.
“We do offer free training and free dispensing of that medication,” Kannapel said.
