Troy police warn of fentanyl overdoses

TROY, Ala. (WSFA) – The opioid epidemic is affecting people across the country. Now overdoses and deaths due to fentanyl are occurring in the city of Troy.

Newly sworn-in Troy Police Chief Danny Barron released a public service announcement to ensure people know what to look for to protect themselves and their families.

Barron said fentanyl is now affecting people in Troy who are taking drugs laced with it. Specifically, he says they see it in counterfeit oxycodone pills marked M30 that contain fentanyl.

“It looks like a crystalline substance, a crystallized substance. Our college students seem to like the fact that it’s a party drug,” Barron said.

You see that the drug is used by 18 to 30 year olds.

The drug is so dangerous that just inhaling it can be fatal.

“We just want our college students to know what to look for and to have an open and honest discussion,” Barron said.

Police are also urging people to be prepared just in case and purchase the nasal spray Narcan, which is available over the counter at local pharmacies.

Most law enforcement agencies now carry naloxone at all times.

“It’s important for us to rally to protect ourselves and to be able to protect each other,” said Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

And that’s especially important since ALEA says there are problems with illicit fentanyl across the state.

“We’re trying to stay at the top. We haven’t seen the problems in Alabama that other states have seen, but we have definitely seen an increase in Narcan use, particularly in the last 24 and 36 months,” Burkett said.

If you know someone who is using or selling drugs, please contact the Troy Police Department at 334-566-0500, the Troy Police Secret Witness Line at 334-566-5555 or Central Alabama CrimeStoppers at 334-215- 7867.

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