Authorities in Delaware County have issued a warning about a deadly street drug that they say has the potential to kill every person who uses it.
Toxicology results show that the drug—a powerful synthetic opioid narcotic called Fentanyl—recently claimed the life of a 30-year-old woman from Marcus Hook, according to Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric Hellman.
In smaller, diluted doses, Fetanyl is not necessarily a dangerous drug. The narcotic is frequently used as an anesthetic before and during some surgical procedures.
But Delaware County Heroin Task Force officials say street dealers are distributing the substance, in pure form, in blue packages bearing the name “Black Dahlia.”
“These drugs are manufactured in clandestine labs by criminals, and every single packet has the potential to kill the user,” District Attorney Jack Whelan said in a press release.
“Those who believe they are purchasing heroin end up with a much more dangerous drug that is 100 percent pure and, when ingested, rapidly shuts down the central drive for breathing, resulting in death.”
Hellman said this is the first case involving a death from pure Fentanyl this year.
The Delaware County Heroin Task Force plans to continue its efforts to educate and prevent the use of heroin and abuse of prescription drugs.
Authorities are encouraging Delaware County residents who have any information about illegal drugs to contact the Marcus Hook Police Department at 610-485-1611 or the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division at 610-891-4700.