Fentanyl Found In Street Drugs In Boulder County

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Fentanyl was found in street drugs in Boulder County, public health officials said Saturday.

The fentanyl was found in Xanax and Oxycodone 30 mg pills, which are being circulated in the community, according to Boulder County Public Health. The pills are most likely coming from Mexico, officials said.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, and significantly increases the risk of death from an accidental overdose.

Each day in the United States, more than 100 people die from drug overdoses. Drug overdose rates have increased dramatically over the past decade — even surpassing car accidents as the leading cause of accidental deaths.

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“Anyone who may use street drugs, or knows someone who does, should keep Naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) with them at all times,” said Trina Faatz, a facilitator with the Boulder County Substance Use Advisory Group. “And, if possible, avoid using alone, or inform someone that they will be using.”

Signs of overdose include:

• Not responsive to sound or pain, such as a sternum rub
• Not breathing
• Blue lips or fingertips
• Loud gurgling sounds

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can reverse the effects of a drug overdose from opiates, including heroin and prescription opiates, such as Percocet or Oxycontin. Overdose prevention kits are available from Boulder County Public Health as well as some local pharmacies, without a prescription. A map of pharmacies that carry it can be found here.

Videos of how to use naloxone are available on the Boulder County Works website and on the OpiRescue phone app.

While Naloxone — also known as Narcan — can reverse the effects of an overdose caused by heroin or other opioids, multiple doses may be needed if the potency of the drug is very strong. Combining other drugs or alcohol with heroin increases the risk of overdose. The risk of overdose is higher when tolerance is low; tolerance decreases after even short periods of not using.