A series of fatal overdoses occurred in Portland, Oregon over the weekend, which were attributed to the use of Fentanyl.
Over the weekend, there were several suspected drug overdoses in Portland, Oregon, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals, as reported by the city's police bureau.
It is probable that six of the fatalities were caused by fentanyl, a powerful man-made opioid.
According to a news release from the city's police bureau, some of the individuals who passed away thought they were consuming cocaine, but in reality, it was either fentanyl or a combination of both substances.
The statement cautioned users about a potentially hazardous batch of cocaine that could be in circulation on the streets.
The fatalities took place from the beginning of Friday morning until the end of Saturday afternoon.
The narcotics and organized crime unit of the Portland Police Bureau is conducting an investigation on them.
Oregon, like numerous other states across the nation, has been struggling with a rise in fatalities caused by opioid overdoses, which is being driven by fentanyl, a drug that is extremely addictive and has the potential to be fatal.
A doctor in Washington has reported a rise in incidents involving marijuana that has been mixed with fentanyl. Fentanyl was originally created to alleviate severe pain caused by conditions such as cancer. To read more, click on the link to access the Fox News app.
The usage of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is inexpensive to manufacture and is frequently sold in its pure form or mixed with other drugs, has significantly increased.
A small amount of this substance can cause death due to its potency, which is 50 times stronger than heroin.
The Drug Enforcement Administration states that it has rapidly become the most lethal drug in the country.
In 2021, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl were responsible for around 67% of the 107,000 overdose deaths in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated.
The Tri-County Opioid Safety Coalition reported that over 60% of the 271 opioid overdoses in 2021 in Multnomah County, which includes Portland, were related to fentanyl.
In Portland, the number of homeless deaths reached a record high due to the involvement of fentanyl in that particular year.
In February, a report from Multnomah County revealed that the number of homeless deaths related to fentanyl increased by over eight times, rising from four in 2020 to 36.
The Oregon Health Authority reported that the number of fatal and unintentional overdoses involving fentanyl increased by over 100% statewide, rising from 226 deaths in 2020 to 508 deaths in 2021.
According to the agency's findings, fentanyl and methamphetamine were the drugs most frequently involved in fatal overdoses in 2021.