fentanyl

Three near-fatal overdoses in Douglas County - Counterfeit Percocet pills with fentanyl

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In the past 72 hours, three people have had near-fatal overdoses in Douglas County due to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills being ingested. Deputies were able to quickly administer Naloxone to save the victims.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) warned the public two months ago regarding the counterfeit Percocet pills with fentanyl being sold in the area.

Barton Wellness Lecture: The Opioid Epidemic and help that is available

Event Date: 
February 28, 2019 - 6:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Understand more about the opioid epidemic at the next Barton Health Wellness Lecture on Thursday, February 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, 2170B South Avenue, South Lake Tahoe.

Dr. Matthew Wonnacott will lead the lecture and cover topics including how opioids became an epidemic and what kind of help is available locally for those fighting an addiction to the drug.

Many area emergency personnel carry Naloxone for overdoses

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) is joining the South Lake Tahoe Fire and Lake Valley Fire medics in having their personnel carrying medication used to block the effects of opioids. Narcan (commercial name for Naloxone) can be given to persons suffering from suspected or accidental opioid overdoses at the earliest possible time to minimize overdosing.

Nevada doctor arrested on distribution of opioids and health care fraud charges

Dr. Devendra I. Patel, aka Devendrakumar I. Patel, 58, of Elko, Nev., was arrested Tuesday on 39 charges of unlawful distribution of prescriptions opioids and Medicaid fraud.

Patel is charged with 36-counts of distribution of controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three-counts of health care fraud. He is a cardiologist at his medical practice, Northeastern Nevada Cardiology. The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty for health care fraud is 10 years in prison.

Will buprenorphine and probuphine be the end to opioid addiction?

Headlines, both regionally and nationally are full of the message: Opioid addiction is sweeping the country and its out of control. With the death of musical artist Prince of an opioid overdose, the stigma of the addiction to strong prescription pain pills has been erased. It isn't a poor person's problem, it isn't an unemployed person's problem, it isn't a metropolitan problem. It is a problem in South Lake Tahoe, Reno, the west and the whole country.

El Dorado County teen latest victim of counterfeit hydrocodone

An 18-year-old El Dorado Hills resident is the latest victim of a rash of overdoses from pills made to look like the prescription painkiller, Norco.

In Sacramento County, six deaths are attributed to the pills, and the death of county resident George Berry is now the seventh suspected victim. The pills ingested are actually Fentanyl, which is 80 times as potent as morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin.

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