BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County's Health Commissioner gave an update on deadly overdoses in the county.
Dr. Gale Burstein says cocaine is a big threat right now, and if people are going to use it, they need to assume that its spiked with fentanyl.
Last year, 435 people died of an overdose in Erie County. Seventy one percent of those involved cocaine.
Now, the county has renamed its task force to "Overdose Prevention," to expand their focus outside of just opioids. Dr. Burstein said that many drug dealers add fentanyl to cocaine, as a way to save money and get people addicted.
"Fentanyl is very, very inexpensive for them to add, so their product generates more euphoria, a different high than just cocaine alone if they add the fentanyl. And also it makes people addicted. So, when people are experiencing cravings, and they think they are just using cocaine, they think they are having craving for cocaine. However, it could be craving for fentanyl," said Dr. Burstein.
This year, the numbers are still high with 165 overdose deaths. As for non fatal overdoses, Dr. Burstein said emerging spots are West Seneca, Cheektowaga and Tonawanda.
Narcan,,or Naloxone, can be used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose. Here's how you can get free naloxone/Narcan, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips and other harm reduction supplies: https://www3.erie.gov/health/naloxonenarcan.
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