Santa Clara County records its first carfentanil overdose death

SAN JOSE Santa Clara County recorded its first carfentanil overdose death last week according to county officers Related Articles Baby Phoenix fentanyl death DA alleges father got fake urine before calling for infant s overdose San Mateo County expands mobile mental vitality response Father of Baby Phoenix who died of fentanyl overdose wants felony dropped mental medical campaign instead California man sentenced for distributing fentanyl to teenage girl who died from overdose California launches naloxone accessible to state residents online The synthetic opioid is times more potent than fentanyl and not approved for human consumption A -year-old man was revealed dead with M pills made to look like prescription oxycodone the county s Office of Communications and Population Affairs declared in a news release The Physiological Examiner-Coroner s Office established he died from a carfentanil overdose We urge people to avoid the dangers of opioids especially fake pills that may contain carfentanil or fentanyl Chief Healthcare Examiner Dr Michelle Jorden noted in a declaration Fake pills look real but they can be deadly People should not take any pill that they did not buy from the pharmacy Deaths involving carfentanil appear to be on the rise in the United States The number rose from during the first half of to during the first half of a sevenfold increase according to a summary the Centers for Syndrome Control and Prevention issued in December The county urged society members to call if they encounter someone suffering from an overdose and if doable administer naloxone a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose The Santa Clara County Opioid Overdose Prevention Project offers free naloxone by mail to residents or older To obtain naloxone or learn more about substance use therapy services call - - email SCCOOPP hhs sccgov org or visit fentfacts org The county also provides a full continuum of substance use cure including outpatient and residential programs and medications for addiction restoration according to the county Those struggling with a substance use disorder and need help can contact the county s Behavioral Physical condition Center at - - or dial Check back for updates