Fairfax County Police officials are warning residents about a deadly batch of what they believe is fentanyl-laced cocaine in the community after six people overdosed in the 5500 block of Seminary Road in Falls Church around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Chief Kevin Davis said one of the victims is clinging to life and five others are recovering at a nearby hospital. All six victims were at a nearby club in Alexandria called Babylon Cafe earlier in the evening, police said. They then came back to the apartment and that's where police believe they took the drugs and overdosed. Police cannot say if the drugs were purchased at the cafe. A family member who found them called 911.
When officers arrived, they found a woman unconscious on the sidewalk, Lt. Patrick Brusch said. Four men and another woman were found inside the apartment. The victims range in age from 23 to 35 years old.
The six lives were saved with the help of Naloxone or Narcan, a drug that can reverse fatal overdoses.
"Having this treatment available undoubtedly saved all of their lives," Davis said. "Overdoses are always alarming, as any of these incidents can always be fatal."
The drugs ingested were sent to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for further analysis.
"We don't know if it happened at that establishment but we feel it's necessary for us to describe to our community where they were," Davis added. "Because, if in fact, they did acquire these drugs at that establishment there were other people, obviously there. We don't know who they are, but we want them to hopefully hear this message and if they were there last night and if they somehow acquired the same narcotics, we want them to stop, turn it in, flush it down the toilet -- don't use it"
People can also turn the drugs in anonymously to any Fairfax County Police station.
Authorities said there were five overdoses reported last week in the county. So far this year, 201 overdoses were reported, of which 55 were fatal. Last year at this time, officers responded to 185 overdoses and 61 were fatal. In 2020, officers responded to a total of 239 overdoses which was up 51% from 2019. There were a total of 80 fatal overdoses in the county last year and 45 of those deaths listed fentanyl as a contributing factor.
"Fatal doses of cocaine and heroin are often laced with fentanyl and Carfentanil, which are dangerous synthetic opioids that can be lethal, with even the smallest dose," he added.
What's also alarming, is 75% of those who died last year from a fatal overdose had previously survived an overdose. The youngest overdose victim last year was 14 years old and the oldest was 63 last year.
"These investigations are extremely difficult and require a detective from our overdose investigation unit, that is a full-time job here in Fairfax County, to spend an average of 90 hours on each case," Davis said.
More than 150 search warrants were executed last year related to opioid investigations. Nine suspects were charged with drug offenses related to these investigations.
Davis reminded the community that anyone can get Narcan training for free in the county.
"If you have a loved one, a family member, or even a neighbor who you believe suffers from drug addictions, REVIVE! courses are offered virtually and everyday rescuers are taught how to reverse opioid overdoses using Naloxone," Davis said.
He offered this advice for identifying an overdose: "signs of an overdose include loss of consciousness, pinpoint pupils, low or shallow breathing nausea or vomiting and fingernails turning blue or black. If you spot the signs, call 911 immediately."
Davis said the mother of one of the victims saw the signs of an overdose and called 911.
He said this remains an active investigation as they try to determine who the drug dealer was to hold them accountable. They are also working with the victims to get them the help they need.
If you know someone struggling with addiction, you can call the Merrifield Center at 703-573-5679.
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