Posted on 01/06/2022 5:47:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information about the percent change of fentanyl deaths from 2020 to 2021. The actual percent increase is 84 percent and the story has been corrected. We apologize for the error.
Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry was in KGET’s studios Wednesday renewing the warnings we’ve been hearing about the deadly illicit opioid fentanyl. Have we been heeding those warnings? The numbers say no, not nearly enough.
But then addiction is a powerful thing. It must be. How else do we explain the killer in our midst that – despite persistently dire warnings – ended more lives in 2021 than a typical year’s worth of automobile accidents or homicides?
Fentanyl, turning up as a street substitute for heroin, oxycodone, Xanax and other drugs, tore apart 201 families last year – that we know of. The total is almost surely higher.
The Kern County Coroner’s office reports that as of Nov. 16, the confirmed number of deaths from fentanyl, alone or in combination with other drugs, is, as we’ve said, 201.
That puts Kern County on track for a final 2021 total of 230 — which would be an 84 percent increase over 2020’s total of 125. An undisclosed number of 2021 deaths remain under investigation as to specific cause but are considered possible or likely fentanyl poisonings.
Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry says the problem is not going away – in part because casual drug users don’t always know what they’re taking.
“Many of the people that are coming in contact with it and ingesting it aren’t doing it knowingly,” he said. “It’s being put into other drugs. There are some that have addiction issues and are using it. And then we are also seeing an influx of it into our community as well. And we have done several investigations with some federal partners just this last year where there were some significant seizures of fentanyl in our community. It is certainly something that is here and it is very deadly. “
Fentanyl is turning up in pills disguised as pharmaceutical painkillers, in cocaine, in meth, in Ecstasy – and it’s killing people.
Don’t take the police chief’s word for it. Keir Butterworth and her husband Brian lost their daughter Heather to fentanyl poisoning last May, so they can vouch. Heather, like many, ingested fentanyl in its pill form by heating it and inhaling the vapor.
“She had a pill and smoked not even a quarter of the pill, so she was dead instantly,” the mother said. “So, this is Heather … but there are so many …. parents … who lost someone.
What’s a concerned parent to do?
“Be aware,” Chief Terry said. “Educate yourself and educate your family.”
If you would like to know more about the drug fentanyl, its potential to devastate lives, and what you can do about it, we urge you to go to our website for Robert Price’s award-winning special report, “Fentanyl: the Counterfeit Killer.”
And every one of those corpses will vote Democrat in the next 142 elections
where did these drugs come from? (Rhetorical question).
Pithy. Profound. Prophetic. In other words, “Sucks to be you.”
Trump brought them?
My nephew in Ohio had just gotten out of rehab in 2020 and foolishly got some fentanyl that turned out to be super potent. He was done in minutes. RIP.
Who cares only covid deaths matter right?
I’m sorry to hear that. Uts such a dangerous drug. Nay your nephew rest in peace. Nephews are like sons so I know that can’t can’t easy.
I hope my bad typos don’t make my condolences any less.
A good crime story would be that the cartels created and own the rights to narcan. If OD numbers supposedly increased by 84% how many more times was narcan administered in the last year?
FReegards
I was thinking about getting some Naloxone and keeping it in our vehicles and in my wife’s purse in case we come across an OD. You don’t need a script here for it, and there are hundreds overdosing around here lately.
Chinese chemical warfare by another name.
In 2018 I spent about 9 months in central Iowa working on a large construction project. Most of the construction companies were from out of state and rented housing for their employees in Fort Dodge and the smaller towns in the surrounding towns. Very rural and very depressing place for city folks, and we were not surprised by the drug and alcohol consumption by the locals. We assumed the drug of choice was methamphetamines but were surprised to learn it was in fact opioids, fetanyl. Most of us had never heard of it before, but we saw the effects.
Nasty drug created by immoral and money driven pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies.
Appears to me scientists have lost their perspective. They should consider if their work is of value to humanity first, rather than if there is a market for it.
Granted addicts aren't known for rational behavior but, dang. This is playing with fire. I have a little too much Jack Daniels I wake up a little fuzzy in the morning. A little too much fentanyl and you don't wake up - ever.
“Don’t take the police chief’s word for it. Keir Butterworth and her husband Brian lost their daughter Heather to fentanyl poisoning last May, so they can vouch. Heather, like many, ingested fentanyl in its pill form by heating it and inhaling the vapor.”
Only a matter of time.
“Nasty drug created by immoral and money driven pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies.”
Obviously you know nothing about fetanyl (sic).
A friend called a couple weeks ago to tell me his son OD’d the night before. He’s been struggling and I thought he’d conquered it.
I’m pretty sure my friend was practicing on me before he called his mom to tell her.
Taking fentanyl or any recreational drug is a CHOICE. Bad choices frequently have bad outcomes. No sympathy from these quarters to those who take that risk.
Just be ready if the addict gets upset with you because you stopped his high....they often do get angry and go out right away and get high again.
Addicts know they never know what’s really put in their drugs....and they also know fentanyl is often mixed with their drug of choice. So they know they’re playing Russia roulette every time they take a hit.
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