A spike in calls for people who are overdosing on drugs led officials to put out a warning to the local community.
Hopkinsville Fire Department Captain Spokesman Payton Rogers says this year they have had 10 confirmed overdoses, with 3 being just last week. He added they have administered Narcan 22 times this year.
Roger says the median age is 34, with the youngest at 13.
Many signs differ with each drug, but Rogers says that breathing issues, skin tone changes, constricted or dilated pupils, and inability to wake them up are some of the signs.
Rogers says it’s very important to let emergency personnel know what kind of drug the person may be on and that they may be overdosing. He added that it helps them when administering life-saving aid.
Narcan is a great drug for everyone to keep around, but it costs around $40 for two doses, Rogers says, adding it is only effective if the drug is an opiate, but can be given to someone who shows signs of a drug overdose.
Christian County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Sara Morris says they work diligently to investigate the source of dangerous substances in an attempt to identify and hold those distributing these drugs accountable.
Hard conversations at home can help eliminate or identify the use of drugs early, Morris says, adding that deputies have even seized marijuana laced with fentanyl, and the slightest dose can be deadly to someone unaware of it.
Morris wants the community to continue to provide anonymous tips to help prevent overdoses and save lives. We see firsthand the devastating impact dangerous drugs have on our community and how much a little information goes a long way.
Hopkinsville Police Department Spokesman Justin Rios says they have seen a rise in drug overdoses recently as well, He added they are investigating all the drug overdoses within the city.
Tips about possible illegal drug usage can be submitted to the Christian County Sheriff’s Office at https://www.christiancountyso.com/divisions/narcotics/ or the Hopkinsville Police Department by calling 270-887-TIPS(8477).
