Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: July 27, 2006

HEALTH Confirms Powder Found at Death Scenes Contains Fentanyl
Fentanyl in Combination with Illegal Drugs is Extremely Lethal

The Drug Laboratory at the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) has determined that powdery substances found at 3 of the 4 death-by-overdose scenes last week contain fentanyl. Last Friday, the Office of the State Medical Examiner issued an alert in response to these deaths. No further information about the individuals who died is available at this time.

Last month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued an action alert to substance abuse treatment and prevention professionals about a new combination of street drugs with a potentially lethal effect. The addition of fentanyl, a powerful narcotic analgesic, to heroin or cocaine being sold on the streets is believed to be the cause of clusters of drug-related deaths and even greater numbers of overdoses in east coast and midwest cities in the past few months.

In just one week in May, an estimated 33 individuals in the Detroit were reported to have died after using this fatal drug mix. The same drug combination may have been responsible for over 100 deaths in Philadelphia/Camden, Chicago, St. Louis, and Detroit since last September.

"Our State Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Tom Gilson, has done an excellent job of detecting this unusual pattern of extremely sudden deaths related to illegal drug use, said David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, Director of HEALTH. "We are alerting the community about this situation to help save lives. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. When mixed with cocaine or heroin, the results are lethal."

When used illegally, particularly in combination with a drug such as heroin or cocaine, or when used in excessive amounts, fentanyl causes irregular heartbeat, the inability to breathe, and death.

In some cases, heroin or cocaine users are aware they are purchasing this dangerous combination of drugs; in other cases, the buyer is not aware that he or she is purchasing this potentially lethal drug combination.

Rhode Islanders who want to quit using illegal drugs may call the 24/7, toll free number for SSTAR DETOX at 1-800-747-6237. All calls are confidential.

For referrals to other related services, they may also call the Department of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals at 401-462-4680 Monday thru Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, or the Rhode Island Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependency at the 24/7, toll free number 1-866-252-3784. All calls are confidential.