The coroner in St. Tammany Parish warns of the dangers of taking illegal pills that could contain the drug fentanyl.
Dr. Charles Preston says the recent death of healthy 22-year-old Cameron Landry was alarming because he apparently overdosed on a single pill. Dr. Preston says lab results are pending, but he’s fairly certain that pill contained fentanyl.
"An adulterated 'prescription' pill that is so potent, because it has some fentanyl in it,which is a thousand times more potent than morphine," Preston says.
Preston says having an adult man weighing over 250 pounds overdose on a single pill is unusual, but testament to how dangerous fentanyl can be. He says many are buying illegal meds that may look like something simple, like Percocet, but have varying amounts of fentanyl.
Preston says the overdose rescue drug Narcan should be in every first aid kit.
"Arm yourself with Narcan," Preston warned. "It’s over-the-counter…there are many government agencies that dispense it."
Dr. Preston says in the case of Landry’s death, the pill did look like a Percocet. He says there is even a street name for it: "Fentperc." Preston says addicts shouled seek readily-available help, and just as improtant, he says people need to be aware.
"It is just critical that everybody know, if it didn’t come from a pharmacy, don’t put it in your body."
Preston said St. Tammany Parish has seen 34 overdose deaths so far this year.
