Police Issue Warning About Drugs Laced With Fentanyl After 2 Teen Overdose Deaths

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Two teenage boys died of drug overdoses in Prince William County since Sunday, the police department said. Now, authorities are warning residents about counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl.

"Both deaths appear to be connected to counterfeit forms of the drug Percocet, sometimes referred to as 'Perc30,'" the police department said on Wednesday. "The counterfeit drugs in both recent incidents were preliminarily tested and confirmed as being laced with fentanyl."

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid designed to treat severe pain. The drug is 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Across the country, low-cost fentanyl is being mixed into illicit drugs to increase potency, authorities said.

"Fentanyl is known to be extremely fatal, even in the smallest doses if the effects of an overdose are not recognized and treated immediately," the Prince William County Police Department said. "If you suspect a loved one is overdosing, call 9-1-1 immediately and administer Narcan, if available."

More information about where to obtain Narcan in Virginia is available through the Virginia Department of Health. Many local health departments and community services boards offer Narcan training.

Authorities are still investigating the deaths of the two teens, though investigators believed the boys overdosed after consuming the fentanyl-laced pills. An official cause of death for the teens is pending toxicology results from the Office of the Medical Examiner.

The police department said officers are still investigating how the teens acquired the narcotics.

"The Police Department recognizes our youth population as most susceptible to peer influence and pressures," authorities said on Wednesday. "We implore parents and guardians to take immediate action to actively engage with their children and loved ones as soon as possible about the dangers of drug use and encourage constructive dialogue to prevent further deaths and illness."

The Prince William County School system and Prince William County Community Services offer support and resources for families. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

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