DEATH in a Percocet capsule

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  • File photo of capsules
    File photo of capsules
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    A deadly batch of illegal Percocet tablets made its way through Pendleton County over the weekend killing at least one according to a Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office press release.
    It said between Friday, Frebruary 26, 2021 and Sunday, February 28, 2021, the sheriff’s office in conjunction with Pendleton County Ambulance Services responded to seven unresponsive people; two which were at the same residence.
    Six of the seven victims were successfully revived. The seventh died after arriving to the hospital.
    Chief Deputy Marty Hart told Falmouth Outlook, “It is very unusual for this community to have that many overdoses in that period of time. Everyone said they had taken a Percocet.”
    The issue had been brought to the attention of the sheriff’s office by the Pendleton County Ambulance Services.
    There is a theory among law enforcement that a person would take a Percocet prescription and remove half of the ingredient. They would replace it with another substance and sell the pills at a dollar per milligram.
    These Percocet 30’s are 30 milligram meaning it would be $30 for a capsule with only half Percocet.
    For those that have built up a tolerance, sometimes a stronger drug would be added to the Percocet to give the expected high.
    Because of the number of overdoses, Hart is wondering if they were not laced with a lethal drug.
    None of the pills have been recovered as the individuals indicated they had taken all of the Percocet they had in possession.
    The press release cautioned anyone “from taking any medication not obtained from a licensed medical professional and/or pharmacy.”    
    In a dark scenario, law enforcement theorizes that a drug pusher looking to make their mark and ensure their product is real will purposely lace their product to kill someone. It results in creating legitimacy that their drug is the real thing.
    There is an ongoing investigation and anyone with any information that could prevent more deaths can contact the sheriff’s office at (859) 654-4511 or Pendleton County Dispatch Center at (859) 654-3300.