Santa Clara County records its first carfentanil overdose death

SAN JOSE Santa Clara County recorded its first carfentanil overdose death last week according to county functionaries Related Articles Baby Phoenix fentanyl death DA alleges father got fake urine before calling for infant s overdose San Mateo County expands mobile mental wellness response Father of Baby Phoenix who died of fentanyl overdose wants felony dropped mental fitness activity instead California man sentenced for distributing fentanyl to teenage girl who died from overdose California launches naloxone accessible to state residents online The synthetic opioid is times more potent than fentanyl and not approved for human consumption A -year-old man was discovered dead with M pills made to look like prescription oxycodone the county s Office of Communications and Masses Affairs revealed in a news release The Therapeutic Examiner-Coroner s Office certified he died from a carfentanil overdose We urge people to avoid the dangers of opioids especially fake pills that may contain carfentanil or fentanyl Chief Therapeutic Examiner Dr Michelle Jorden commented in a message Fake pills look real but they can be deadly People should not take any pill that they did not buy from the pharmacy Deaths involving carfentanil appear to be on the rise in the United States The number rose from during the first half of to during the first half of a sevenfold increase according to a assessment the Centers for Infection Control and Prevention issued in December The county urged area members to call if they encounter someone suffering from an overdose and if practicable administer naloxone a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose The Santa Clara County Opioid Overdose Prevention Project offers free naloxone by mail to residents or older To obtain naloxone or learn more about substance use therapy services call - - email SCCOOPP hhs sccgov org or visit fentfacts org The county also provides a full continuum of substance use recovery including outpatient and residential programs and medications for addiction cure according to the county Those struggling with a substance use disorder and need help can contact the county s Behavioral Strength Center at - - or dial Check back for updates