Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jul 2006
Source: Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)
Copyright: 2006 Poughkeepsie Journal
Contact:  http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1224
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

POTENT SYNTHETIC DRUG FOUND LOCALLY

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug similar to morphine, has reached 
Dutchess County. It is thought to be as much as 200 times as potent 
as morphine.

The county Department of Health warned local hospital emergency rooms 
recently to be on alert, because fatal overdoses are common among 
heroin users lured by the promise of an intense high. Government 
agencies and nonprofit groups that work are also trying to get the 
word out on the street.

The Dutchess County medical examiner recently received toxicology 
results indicating that a man with a history of drug abuse and 
hepatitis C had the drug in his blood stream when he was found dead 
in his home.

It was the first known death attributed to the drug in Dutchess 
County, but Fentanyl has killed people across the country.

"Whatever is being sold out on the street, we're just concerned we're 
going to see more cases sooner rather than later," Health 
Commissioner Dr. Michael Caldwell said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman