The Dakota County Drug Task Force is warning residents about an increase in fatal and non-fatal drug
overdose cases in May and early June, including a recent spike this past week.
The Dakota County Drug Task Force states that this may be a sign of increased fentanyl in the drug supply, and even recreational drug users are at an increase in risk of overdose or death. Fentanyl can be found in the drug supplies of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Unresponsive to outside stimulus
- Fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish-black
- Pulse is slow, erratic, or absent
- Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped
- For lighter-skinned people, skin tone turns bluish-purple, for darker skinned it turns gray or ashen
- Choking sounds or snore-like gurgling sounds
- Vomiting
- Body is limp
If you notice anyone going through those signs, call 911 and carry Narcan if anyone you know uses substances.
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