Raleigh, N.C. — It’s virtually unimaginable to inform these two capsules aside.
One is actual and the opposite is pretend, containing a lethal dose of fentanyl.
This week, the DEA put out a warning that these look-a-likes have gotten extra widespread.
“One Capsule Can Kill.”
That is the brand new nationwide marketing campaign to lift consciousness of counterfeit prescription capsules. A whole lot of those capsules have been seized by police throughout our space simply within the final 10 days.
“It’s on the market,” mentioned Matthew O’Brien, DEA Assistant Particular Agent in Cost. “A lot of the fentanyl that ultimately will get pressed into capsules comes throughout the southwest border.”
However it doesn’t take lengthy to reach in North Carolina.
“Southeast Raleigh is an enormous distribution place,” O’Brien mentioned. “However I can let you know sadly that the fentanyl and the capsules are all all through in each county.”
Simply final week – Raleigh Police seized 55 fentanyl capsules — together with cocaine, money and weapons.
In Wilson, officers discovered a whole lot of capsules throughout a visitors cease that additionally turned up heroin, meth and stacks of money totaling $13,000. The driving force, 23-year-old Cierra Mullen, was charged with possession and trafficking.
The Raleigh subject workplace of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has not too long ago warned towards a surge in counterfeit prescription capsules in North Carolina.
“Individuals are dying. Youngsters are dying. Households are being devastated, and it’s not stopping. It’s getting worse,” mentioned Wendy Thomas, whose son died of a fentanyl overdose after taking what he thought was a Percocet tablet.
Matthew Thomas, 20, was one of three Apex High School graduates to die of fentanyl poisoning in a three-month interval in 2020.
“We perceive there are 1000’s that are available in however as a result of one tablet can kill, for those who cease 100, for those who cease 300, properly a minimum of these didn’t go on the road,” O’Brien mentioned.
Mathew O’Brien with the D-E-A says only a hint quantity, simply two milligrams, of fentanyl is sufficient to kill. The artificial opioid is commonly laced in capsules bought on the road as Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax and Adderall.
“If these capsules will not be prescribed by an actual physician. If they aren’t given to you or allotted by an actual pharmacist, that tablet is probably going lethal,” O’Brien mentioned.
The DEA mentioned they’re seeing a rising variety of drug gross sales occurring on social media. They’re urging mother and father to speak with their youngsters.
Simply this week, the brand new DEA administer mentioned she is going to quickly be asking platforms like Snapchat and TikTok to take particular steps to get drug sellers off their websites.
