By The Star Staff
The Institute of Forensic Sciences (ICF by its initials in Spanish), the island’s medical examiner’s office, revealed Thursday that toxicology tests have shown that most of the recent overdose victims in Arecibo had fentanyl in their bloodstream.
ICF Executive Director María Conte Miller said most of the 10 overdose deaths reported in recent days in Arecibo tested positive for fentanyl in combination with other drugs.
“A special work plan was carried out between Monday and Tuesday to attend to these cases and confirm the preliminary tests carried out in the autopsy room, as it was a multiple incidents of overdose deaths in a single municipality or region,” Conte Miller said in a written statement.
The island’s top forensics official said six of the victims tested positive for fentanyl mixed with cocaine; two tested positive for fentanyl mixed with xylazine; one tested positive for fentanyl, cocaine and xylazine; and only one tested positive for cocaine.
The deaths revealed the widespread adulteration of cocaine with fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. Fentanyl, a Schedule II opioid analgesic, is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. For that reason, it carries a high risk of overdose and can be lethal at the 2-milligram range.
The deaths are also being investigated by federal officials.
It appears there is someone who does not like drug addicts and is intentionally adulterating drugs. Is there a possibility this is the work of a serial killer?