Seven non-fatal opioid overdoses over two days last week has prompted a warning from the Oneida County Overdose Response Team.

The seven overdoses occurred in Rome, Utica, Floyd and Marshall within a two-day period between March 10 and 12, county officials said. The incidents involved multiple drugs, mostly cocaine and methamphetamine, which were laced with an opioid that is believed to be fentanyl, officials stated.

Drug users are advised to watch out for fentanyl laced into non-opioid drugs.

“The one consistent and often deadly culprit we are seeing in most of our overdose clusters is fentanyl” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.

“Fentanyl has permeated the illicit drug supply and can be found in all classes of street drugs including drugs purchased online and via social media. This has completely changed the risk for overdose fatality. A person can no longer think, ‘I did it before and I was fine’. With the mixing of potent illicit fentanyl in often lethal doses in almost every kind of street drug, just one time can kill.”

So far this year, Oneida County has seen seven fatal overdoses, the latest of which occurred on March 8 in Sauquoit, officials stated.

The Overdose Response Team conducts a rapid assessment to identify factors that may be contributing to overdose spikes. While there has been concern over reports of blue and purple substances circulating and causing overdoses among long-time chronic users, no definitive link has been established to this latest spike alert. There have been additional reports of individuals believing they were using cocaine or methamphetamine and unknowingly ingesting an opioid, likely fentanyl. 

Over 70% of all drug-related deaths in Oneida County in 2022 involved fentanyl, officials said. The majority of these involved a combination of cocaine and methamphetamine with fentanyl. Individuals using those drugs should take the same harm reduction precautions as those using opioids such as carrying naloxone, fentanyl test strips and never using alone.

People who use drugs and their loved ones can access treatment and recovery services by calling 211. Free Narcan-by-mail is available through the Oneida County Health Department at the website www.OCOpioidTaskForce.org.