Sheriff Warns of Deadly New Drug Trend in the Northland

Kansas City DEA tests reveal that 2 of every 5 fentanyl pills contain a deadly dose, and are causing overdoses and deaths throughout the KC metro area. Many of the victims happen to be teenagers, who are quickly accessing the drugs using social media to communicate and distribute amongst their peers. This was the takeaway from Clay County Sheriff Detective Jeremy Fahrmeier’s program at the Excelsior Springs SAFE Community meeting on Thursday, February 3rd. He reported there have recently been seven fentanyl-related deaths in the KC metro area, six of them were in Clay County. To combat this trend the Clay County Sheriff’s department has been holding summits and speaking to groups throughout the county to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl.

Blue pills, sold as oxycontin but laced with fentanyl are what police have found are being distributed to metro area teens and young adults. Fahrmeier reported that the highest death rate for fentanyl is for those between the ages of 15-25. Even a small dose of fentanyl, amounting to less than a few grains of table salt, can cause a person to overdose in a minute or less. The detective also said that often users try to guess at the amount of fentanyl needed to get a fix, but this is impossible due to the minuscule amounts necessary for an overdose. He shared a tragic story of two teenage girls who split a pill, thinking that it would be a lower dosage of the drug, one girl survived, while the other did not.

Fahrmeier said, emergency workers now have access to Narcan, a nasal spray shipping in from China that can be used when someone is having an opioid overdose and if administered quickly, can neutralize the drug’s effects. Fentanyl overdosing shuts down the body’s functions and makes it appear as though the person may be asleep. Fahrmeier went on to say that sometimes it can take up to three doses of Narcan to save someone from a fentanyl overdose. In order to keep their customers alive, illegal drug dealers have even begun distributing Narcan alongside fentanyl, because fentanyl is so deadly. Further complicating matters, fentanyl is now being mixed into other illegal drugs. Fentanyl is one hundred times more potent than heroin or morphine. Officers have found fentanyl-laced heroin, meth, and even marijuana increasing the chances that users could overdose on fentanyl without realizing what’s happening. Federal courts have agreed to charge 25 years to life for someone who has caused someone to die as a result of fentanyl poisoning.

It was noted that cases have not been restricted to any particular socio-economic class, and fentanyl has been confiscated from a wide range of ages and income levels. Fahrmeier said that parents need to be on the watch for changes in their children’s behavior; if they seem lethargic, have bags under their eyes, or changes to their skin it can be an indication of drug use. Keeping a watch on their online activity, as well as who they are spending their time with is also important for identifying problems and heading them off. Detective Fahrmeier ended the presentation by mentioning Drug Court and a Drug Diversion Program, both offered to help addicts find what they need to break free of their addictions. He said that they would much rather see someone get the help that they need than to see them locked up. The Sheriff’s office will continue their campaign with another Drug Summit to take place on February 17th in Smithville. For more information, visit the Clay County Sheriff’s website.