PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Department of Health said 2020 is expected to record the highest number of unintentional drug overdose deaths of any single year. The main reason is that street drugs are now being laced with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a laboratory-made synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. The health department is starting a city-wide outreach program to let users know that their "drug of choice" may be laced with the potent painkiller.
Dr. Kendra Viner, director of the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction division, said drugs like meth, PCP, heroin and others are all showing up with fentanyl in them. This has pushed the drug overdose rate to record levels, she said, and that 81% of all overdose deaths in 2020 involved fentanyl.
But according to Viner, it's not just known drug hotspots that are showing fentanyl-laced products.
"A lot of our outreach traditionally has been within Kensington, with people who are using drugs more in the public eye. We now need to go to neighborhoods where drug use is a little bit more behind closed doors," she said.
"Now fentanyl is in everything and everyone who obtains drugs from an illicit source is potentially at risk," added Viner. "To respond we will need to ensure that all Philadelphians who use drugs are aware of the danger that this drug poses and what they can do to protect themselves."
According to the health department, fentanyl is also being pressed into pills resembling prescription drugs.
The health department is starting a public education campaign targeting users, which will include not just information but fentanyl testing strips. The strips will indicate if the drug has been cut with fentanyl. Viner says the campaign will partner with groups who serve at-risk populations, "providing them with the materials, fentanyl test strips, and encouraging them to interface with populations that they engage with."
The department is also distributing naloxone to organizations and individuals who use drugs, to prevent drug overdoses. Those who use drugs are encouraged to obtain it by mail from NEXT Distro.