The Fishers Police Dept. issued a warning Nov. 22 to parents, students and young adults about a counterfeit pill trend that has led to several accidental overdoses and three deaths in Fishers.
Counterfeit pills marketed as legitimate prescription pain, anti-anxiety or stimulant medication like Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax and Adderall are later found to contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid similar to morphine but is much more potent, according to police.
Teens are unknowingly connecting with local and national drug dealers through social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others to obtain the counterfeit pills, according to police. Through this method, the dealers can remain anonymous.
Last month, officers assigned to the FPD Crime Reduction Unit seized more than 25,000 counterfeit pills believed to contain fentanyl.
A press release from the FPD urges Fishers residents to be aware of the counterfeit pills and only take medications prescribed to them by a medical professional and dispersed by a licensed pharmacist.
Testing of counterfeit pills seized by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration reveals that two out of five pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. Counterfeit pills seized by the DEA have increased by 430 percent since 2019.
For more, visit DEA.gov/onepill.
