On March 12, 2020, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced counterfeit Percocet pills are being sold locally that actually contain fentanyl.
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl is so potent, that 2 milligrams (an immeasurable amount on many drug traffickers’ scales) is considered a lethal dose. This results in a great number of counterfeit pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl.
The counterfeit pills are being sold on the street as legitimate Percocet and may also be called beans, biscuits, treats, blues, or thirties. These drugs are popular with young adults who mistakenly think pills are safe because they are sold as authentic prescription medication made in professional labs. Many teens and young adults do not realize the pills they are taking could be made in a criminal drug lab with no regulation, testing, or safety procedures to protect the person taking the pill.
We encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers of prescription drugs. Remind them that they don’t know what they are getting, even if they get it from a friend.
Sheriff Coverley urges all parents, regardless of the age of their children, to take an active role in their child’s business. “Be nosy, ask questions and know where they are and who they are with at all times. These pills will kill your child and no response from the Sheriff’s Office or Fire Department will save them, it happens too fast,” said Sheriff Dan Coverley.
In early 2020, two Damonte High School students passed away from accidental fentanyl overdoses.
Partnership Douglas County hosts free Naloxone trainings. Naloxone is a drug that can counter and even reverse the effects of opioids if administered soon after a suspected overdose. For more information, or to schedule a training, email info@pdcnv.org.
