Yale-New Haven Hospital recently declared a first for them: they treated over 20 cases of overdoses in just four hours. While it is not usual for them to see several per day, it is most unusual to see that many in such a short time span.
Officials report that a deadly mixture of street drugs are being sold, causing people to become extremely ill and in several cases, die. They say it is a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, but that there is something inside of the fentanyl that is unlike anything they have ever seen. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid and pain killer that can be up to 100 times stronger than uncut heroin.
Gail D’Onofrio, director of emergency medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital has said the overdose has caused some patients to rely on ventilators to help them breathe. D’Onforio stated that while it is not unusual to see several overdose cases in one day, it is highly unusual to see people coming in all presenting identical symptoms.
D’Onforio said that all of the patients arrived between 7pm and 11pm and that the usual overdose reversal drug Narcan didn’t seem to work in this case. Most patients needed measures far beyond this, and nearly all were presenting with lung and liver failure.
The staff isn’t very hopeful about their patients’ prognosis, as already three people have died following an overdose of this mystery cocktail. If the patients do survive, doctors are unsure how this episode will affect their daily lives going forward.
Police said in a statement:
“Most of the cases originated in the city’s Newhallville/ Dixwell community. Others victims were discovered downtown and in the Annex (in New Haven). West Haven and Shelton have also reported a case or cases.”
So far, all of the patients remain in the hospital with three in the intensive care unit. They are also being administered Narcan routinely in hopes that it will eventually flush the drugs from their systems.
All of the patients stated that they originally thought they were purchasing cocaine, not heroine.
The city asks that anyone with information call the anonymous tip line at 203-946-6098.
Sources:
Mass Live