Antioch Police Warn Of Opioid Dangers

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Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow is alerting parents and residents about an alarming increase in instances of drug overdoses involving opioids laced with fentanyl. The uptick in instances of overdoses mirrors a growing problem locally, regionally, and nationally.

Since the beginning of this year, Antioch Police have responded to 14 reports of overdose victims. Of the 14 overdose calls, three of the victims died as a result of the overdose. Guttschow says the eleven victims who lived, were saved because every Antioch Police Officer carries an opioid antagonist, Narcan. When administered within a certain timeframe, Narcan will rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. Guttschow emphasizes that time is critical in the administration of Narcan. 

“The quicker the response by first responders, the better chance of saving a life,” said Guttschow. “That’s why our officers carry Narcan, and every shift commander carries multiple doses.”

Criminal drug networks are mass-producing counterfeit pills that look identical to common prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These fake pills have increasingly become more deadly.

“These pills are falsely passed off as legitimate and are being sold online, via common social media platforms,” said Chief Guttschow. “The criminals who manufacture these drugs include fentanyl to make the drugs cheaper to make, which also makes the pills more deadly. It doesn’t take much fentanyl to kill someone. As a department, we are working hard to educate our community about these dangers. We’re also warning the drug dealers that we’re coming after them.”

Guttschow says there isn’t just one segment of the population that has been impacted. Recent overdose victims in the Village of Antioch range in age from 15 to 52 years old.

Through social media and other community outreach, the Antioch Police Department is working to educate parents and community members about the growing dangers of illicit opioids and other drugs. Through social media, the department is promoting the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill initiative. The department is also working with several community groups on an upcoming event.

More information: https://www.dea.gov/onepill