Reported August 23th, 2006

The focus of this story pertains to a deadly drug called fentanyl. 

I heard about fentanyl for the first time recently during a visit to my local ER. While waiting, I listened in on two doctors discussing a recent outbreak of overdoses from tainted marijuana and heroin laced with fentanyl. I decided to research this particular drug since it has caused deaths such as the following article reports. 

The thought of many young people experimenting with drugs, specifically marijuana which many people find 'unharmful', is very disturbing. There is a lot of controversy concerning the effects of marijuana on a human being. If a person wants to believe that marijuana is harmless, maybe this fact could change your mind. Just because a person sets out to purchase or smoke cannabis, doesn't mean that's all you will get. It could be laced with pcp, embalming fluid or this particular drug; fentanyl. In fact, the DEA has a report on its website about fentanyl laced heroin, cocaine and marijuana found in the Chicago area as well. 

-Nicole DelBuono

**Many heroin dealers mix Fentanyl powder with larger amounts of heroin in order to maximize potency and increase the market share of their product. As of late May 2006, a mix of fentanyl and either cocaine or heroin has caused an outbreak in overdose deaths in the United States, heavily concentrated in the cities of Detroit, Philadelphia, Camden, Chicago, and Little Rock. The mixture of fentanyl and heroin is known as "magic" on the street. 
Street names:
-China White -China Girl -Dance fever

The following article was featured on the Courier Post Online August 19, 2006.

The arrests were made a month ago in Philadelphia but were not announced until late Friday by Wilmington, Del., police because the matter was under investigation. The joint probe, which includes federal drug enforcement agencies, is continuing.

Overdose deaths that have occurred in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware are among hundreds nationwide that have been blamed on heroin tainted with the painkiller fentanyl.

Fentanyl is attractive to drug users because it is highly potent and cheaper than heroin. It is used legally in anesthesia and for some cancer patients.

Of the more than 60 overdose deaths believed to be connected to fentanyl in South Jersey, nearly all were in Camden and Gloucester counties.

There have been 30 deaths in Camden County since the first batch of tainted heroin surfaced in April on the streets of Camden, said county prosecutor's office spokesman Capt. Richard Minardi.

There also have been an estimated 30 deaths linked to the mixture in Gloucester County, Bernie Weisenfeld, spokesman for the Gloucester County prosecutor, said.

There were less than a half dozen overdose deaths in Burlington County in the spring, but Burlington County prosecutor's office spokesman Jack Smith said Saturday he does not know how many have been linked to fentanyl. He said the victims were all young males in Medford, Medford Lakes, Marlton and Moorestown.

Master Sgt. Steven T. Elliott of the Wilmington police department said the two arrested July 19 are suspected of manufacturing the tainted heroin. He
identified them as Yasmin Rosa, 30, and a 17-year-old female who lives with Rosa in the 3000 block of N. 6th Street in Philadelphia, where they were arrested.

In executing a search warrant there, he said investigators from Philadelphia and Delaware found bulk quantities of both heroin and fentanyl valued at more than $40,000 as well as several thousand dollars in cash and drug packaging materials and equipment.

"Philadelphia police, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and DEA contingents from Delaware and Pennsylvania believe a significant amount of the fentanyl-laced heroin was taken off the street," Elliott said.

He said Wilmington detectives from the Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division began an aggressive investigation in April that led them to the Philadelphia connection and upper level dealers involved in the supply. Since April there have been nine deaths from tainted heroin in the Wilmington area.

Elliott said the two females tried to flee out the back door of the home but were apprehended by police who had surrounded the house.

They both have been charged in Philadelphia with possession with the intent to distribute illegal narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and drugs, use of telecommunications systems to commit a crime, and conspiracy.

New Jersey authorities were not involved in the Philadelphia arrests.