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Drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids rose from 3,442 in 1999 to 17,029 in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, the number of deaths declined to 14,139. This was followed by a slight increase in 2020, with 16,416 reported deaths. In 2021, the number of reported deaths involving prescription opioids totaled 16,706. (NIH)
DAYTON–Deaths attributed to the synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl have increased dramatically in recent times and local officials say Dayton and Columbia County are not immune to the problem.
To bring the topic to the forefront, the public is invited to a town hall meeting, set for 7 p.m., Thursday May 4 in the Dayton Elementary School Multipurpose Room, to discuss the impact of the fentanyl epidemic on Columbia County. The panel discussion is sponsored by Neighbors United for Progress, a local political action committee.
The problem has reached Columbia County, according to Columbia County Prosecutor C. Dale Slack. "The vast majority of crimes our office prosecutes have some drug-use component to them, and fentanyl has taken over from methamphetamine as the easiest-to-get, cheapest, and most-available drug in this county," he said.
The U.S. Department of Health reports that deaths due to fentanyl in the U.S. were 66% higher in 2021 than in 2019. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and other accidents.
The town hall will feature panel discussion, with the following panel members: Joe Helm, Columbia County Sheriff; Rich Stewart, Dayton School Superintendent; Greg Hall, Blue Mountain Counseling; Everett Maroon, Blue Mountain Heart to Heart; Dawn Meicher, Columbia County Health System; Lindsay McLaughlin, Columbia County Health System; and Slack, Columbia County Prosecutor.
Panel members will discuss how local government and other organizations are gearing up to deal with this epidemic, and how members of the community can help.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.
Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder. Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. In its liquid form, IMF can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies.
Street names for IMF include Apache, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Jackpot, Murder 8 and Tango & Cash.
Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life. Here are some things to look for: small, constricted "pinpoint pupils"; falling asleep or losing consciousness; slow, weak, or no breathing; choking or gurgling sounds; limp body; cold and/or clammy skin; and discolored skin (especially in lips and nails).
