ETX authorities combat Fentanyl crisis, now deadliest drug in America

Published on December 12, 2018

Numbers show the country is dealing with an unprecedented drug overdose crisis and now a new government report finds the powerful opioid Fentanyl is the biggest killer.

New CDC research shows Fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is a former special agent with the DEA, and says Fentanyl is 50 times more lethal than heroin.

“It’s very dangerous, I can’t express how dangerous it is,” said Sheriff Smith. “Fentanyl is used in addition to heroin to give a bigger high. Fentanyl was an animal tranquilizer. Most Fentanyl in the United States comes from China.”

An officer in Ohio nearly died recently from exposure. East Texas officers are trained to recognize it, and protect themselves.

“They use latex gloves and maybe something to keep you from breathing it in to combat that,” Sheriff Smith said. “All of our patrol deputies are equipped with Narcan kits.” Read More