Overdose spike in Oneida County

18 overdoses and 4 deaths in a four day period in Oneida County.

Raphael warnk, four deaths in ju a four dperios gary liberatore joins us now with more on this.

Gary, good evening.

Good evening.

With this large spike....cntleaders areurging pl drugs to assume that substances like cocaine and methamphetamine can unknowlingly also contain opioids, and to take precautions....basica lly to not die.

These precautions include stocking up on naloxone...or the brand name of it...called narcan...which rapidly reverses an opioid-related overdose they also say...never use drugs alone, andif possibletest substances for the presence of opioids before ingesting them.

The 18 overdoses and four fatalities happened between december 30th... and january 3rd.

Eight of the overdoses occurred within in a 24-hour time period from new year's eve to new year's day.

County officials say the issues are with cocaine...mixed with an opiod....either heroin of fentanyl.

Tc : 07:34 "most importantly make sure that you, your friends, your family and those around you gain access to narcan.

It's a life-saving medication they quickly reverses the effects of the opioid overdose and you can find it at your local pharmacy or local treatment or recovery organization."

Again....henderson says substances like cocaine and methamphetamine can unknowingly contain opioids, and to it's imporant for people taking the illgal drugs...to take precautions.

Again, these precautions include stocking up on naloxone...or ther brand name of it...called narcan.

Also...never use drugs alone, andif possibletest substances for the presence of opioids before ingesting them.

Fentanyl test strips are available for free by calling a-c-r health at 315-793-0661.

Reporting live in the studio, gary liberatore, news channel 2.

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