2017 BATTLE TO SAVE LIVES: YPD reports 72 drug overdoses thus far… 6 were fatal… and at least one was possibly weed laced with Fentanyl, unbeknownst to its victims…
YARMOUTH – The opioid epidemic rages on…
… and the Yarmouth Police Department reports 72 documented overdoses thus far in their town, 60 of which have involved heroin/Fentanyl.
Although local first responders have become experts at arriving quickly and saving overdose patients, not all patients are able to be saved in time.
A total of 6 patients have died thus far in 2017 in the Town of Yarmouth alone. Surrounding towns are not immune, likely have similar numbers, if not even higher…
Opioids are ingested in different ways, and overdoses typically involve shooting up with hypodermic needles or popping pills… but in some cases, overdoses can happen when Marijuana is laced with dangerous narcotics, which may have been the case this weekend in Yarmouth.
According to a YPD media statement, on August 6, 2017 at approximately 2:49PM, Patrolmen Rick Aprea and Matt Sheehan – as well as members of the Yarmouth Fire Department – responded to a home on Winslow Gray Road for a medical emergency involving a young adult male.
The stricken male was reportedly unresponsive and not breathing… this after the victim and his girlfriend reportedly smoked marijuana earlier. Marijuana which, unbeknownst to them, may have been laced with deadly narcotics…
The YPD statement continues, “Officers entered the house and observed YFD personnel helping the victim who was lying on the floor in a small bedroom. The victim had no pulse and was not breathing.”
“Yarmouth FD provided emergency first aid and life support as well as Narcan and promptly transported him to Cape Cod Hospital by ambulance. While in route to the hospital, a second dose of Narcan was given and the victim started to respond.”
“A check of the home found a grinder, which is used to grind up the marijuana, and a glass bong in the corner. These were seized as part of the investigation. The girlfriend admitted to the Officers that they both smoked the marijuana but did not realize it may have been laced with another drug which caused the overdose.”
Police Officers and Detectives believe the marijuana was possibly laced with fentanyl… an alarming trend which Police Officers are seeing more and more across the country.
The female involved was also taken voluntarily to CCH as a precaution.
Both patients reportedly survived…
… this time.