Four overdoses have led to two deaths since Thursday in Roseville according to the Roseville Police Department.
Police issued an 'Overdose Alert' on Saturday after a 20-year-old woman died of an overdose, just 24 hours after a 16-year-old died in a similar manner.
Roseville police believe a synthetic drug known as Perc 30 is to blame.
"It's a street drug that could be Oxycodone, but it can never be certain," said Roseville Police Deputy Chief Joe Adams. "That's always the concern we have with synthetic drugs, we don't know what's in them."
In the recent overdoses, Adams says the Perc 30 was likely laced with fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. So far, police don't believe the overdoses are linked together, but the pills could be linked.
"There is some resemblance in the pills but it's too early to tell," Adams said. "It is possible the pills could have been dealt by the same individual."
The Minnesota BCA and Ramsey County investigators are assisting with the investigation.
Still, the threat feels personal for Adams and so many involved in the Roseville community.
"When it starts to deal with kids in our community, it is extremely personal and becomes extremely emotional for all," he said. "Kids might not even know what they're taking. One pill could cause an overdose. If no one is around when they overdose, it very well could lead to their death."
While police are warning about the pills lethality, they're also working to have individuals understand signs of an overdose and the legality of Steve's Law, or also known as Minnesota's "Good Samaritan Law."
"If you're involved in someone's overdose, if you call in good faith for someone who is overdosing, the police will not investigate it as a criminal matter," he said. "This is a health issue. This is a social health issue."
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Steve's Law provides the following protections for the person calling 911 to report a suspected or known drug overdose is protected from prosecution for using or possessing drugs related to the particular overdose they are calling 911 for or responding to by administering naloxone.
Steve's Law has the following limitations and provides no immunity to:
▪ Responders to the overdose for other criminal activities, such as an outstanding warrant for an arrest, perpetrating violence against another person, or gun possession.
▪ Bystanders of the drug related overdose for criminal activity, including consumption of the drug(s) that was involved in the overdose.
▪ Anyone present for criminal charges or prosecution related to the buying or
selling of drugs, including those that may have been involved in the drug overdose.
Physical signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Face is extremely pale or clammy to touch
- Breathing is very slow or stopped
- Body is limp
- Fingernails or lips are blue or purple
- Vomiting or making gurgling noises
- Cannot be woken up from sleep or unable to speak
- Slow heartbeat and/or low blood pressure
Detectives are asking anyone with additional information related to the overdoses in Roseville to call the Roseville Police Department at 651- 792-7008. On-line tips may be submitted at www.cityofroseville.com/3194/Crime-Tips.
