Information provided be San Benito County Health Department. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
The County of San Benito County has shared the following release from Santa Clara County.
The County of Santa Clara Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed the first overdose death in Santa Clara County due to carfentanil last week. The deceased was a 39-year-old male who was found dead with M30 pills, counterfeit pills made to look like prescription oxycodone. The Medical-Examiner advises people not to consume M30 pills which may be laced with carfentanil.
Carfentanil is not approved for human consumption. It is a synthetic opioid approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Most opioid pills found on the street are fake, made to look like real prescription medications and come in different types, shapes and colors.
“Using drugs alone increases the risk of death. We urge people to avoid the dangers of opioids, especially fake pills that may contain carfentanil or fentanyl,” said Dr. Michelle Jorden, Chief Medical Examiner and Neuropathologist in the Office of the Medical Examiner. “Fake pills look real, but they can be deadly. People should not take any pill that they did not buy from the pharmacy.”
Narcan (naloxone), a lifesaving drug, should always be administered in the event of a potential opioid overdose. People should call 911 immediately if they encounter someone who is unresponsive and administer Narcan if they have it. Other harm reduction strategies like using fentanyl test strips can also reduce the risk of overdose.
“We believe that every life matters and no one should die of an overdose. That’s why we offer evidence-based harm reduction services proven to reduce the risks of overdose and disease for people at any stage of use or recovery. We reach the community with tools like the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, drug test strips, and help getting into treatment when someone is ready,” said Dr. Akanksha Vaidya, Assistant Health Officer for the Harm Reduction Program.