There has been much talk around the state about a rise in fentanyl cases of late. Over the last few decades the battle against heroin intensified when the smokeable and snortable kinds took it well beyond the ‘injected with a needle days.’ Then, there became more addictions to opioids, which often involved addictions to prescription pain killers; which would often spread to heroin bought on the street. And now, the most dangerous opioid of all, synthetically manufactured fentanyl, often shipped from other countries and with a potency 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, is more and more prevalent. As Vermilion County Coroner Jane McFadden reminds us, drug dealers may be stretching out their supply of any drug; cocaine, methamphetamines, you name it; with fentanyl. If you take illegal drugs, you never really know what you’re getting, and it could cost you your life.
AUDIO: Every year we’ve had a couple more that involved fentanyl than the year before. I mean I’ve had a couple that were straight up fentanyl, nothing else in it. And those people didn’t go buy fentanyl. Nobody’s selling fentanyl on the street, advertising that they’ve got fentanyl. They’re selling cocaine, methamphetamine; some other illicit drug.
Vermilion County had 28 drug overdose deaths each in both 2021 and 22. And it affects all ages, as last year’s range in age was 24 to 70. The average age is about 46. This year, a 42 and 52 year old were confirmed as overdose deaths, with a handful of autopsies still pending. One thing Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates mentioned is that if you know someone who is or might be a user, and you see anything wrong, do not risk it. Get help immediately.
AUDIO: If you see someone that’s acting distressed, or their breathing’s distressed or they’re not responding; don’t think that it’s just going to work itself out. Call 9-1-1, get emergency responders there, and let’s get the medical attention to them as soon as possible. Because sometimes that’s all the difference in the world.
Coroner McFadden had a specific example for us. Listen carefully. And especially if you hear something that is not normal, take immediate action. She says this is very common.
AUDIO: People saying, “Well, I thought they were just sleeping. And they were snoring really loudly.” Well, what opioids do is they depress the respiratory system, and you can’t breathe. So those people whom they think they’re snoring, their body is gasping for breath. If you know the person’s using drugs and hear them snoring like that; I don’t care, wake them up. And if you can’t wake them up, then you call 9-1-1.
And remember that Narcan kits, also known as naloxone, are commonly available for free from your local health department and your pharmacist. Ask about it. It’s a nasal spray that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and therefore prevents the body from shutting down. But McFadden also adds, even if someone’s life is saved by Narcan, get them to a doctor. Because what was in their system, is still there.
