Fentanyl mixed with methamphetamine suspected in area deaths

MCKEAN COUNTY - McKean County District Attorney Stephanie VettenburgShaffer, Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling and Bradford City Police Chief Michael Ward have identified what they believe to be an increase in methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl which has resulted in deaths in the last 30 days.

Other deaths are under investigation and pending toxicology and autopsy.

DA VettenburgShaffer stated they are in contact with their law enforcement partners in surrounding counties and local law enforcement is investigating each overdose death.

“We caution all users that any substance has the potential of being mixed with fentanyl which increases its lethality. Previously, heroin was the substance most often thought of as being mixed with fentanyl. Users may opt for other substances under the mistaken belief that they are safer and would not contain fentanyl. That is not accurate,” VettenburgShaffer said.

She emphasized anyone who has what they believe to be a controlled substance in their possession should assume the substance contains fentanyl.

Law enforcement officials also reiterate that anyone providing controlled substances to someone faces strict penalties. If a drug causes a death, anyone in the chain can be charged with the crime of drug delivery resulting in death. In other words, McKean County Law Enforcement investigates every overdose death as a possible drug delivery resulting in death prosecution and every person in the chain – from the person who gave the drug directly to the victim, the person who gave the drug to that person, the person who packaged it, etc. can be prosecuted. McKean County has medication drop boxes throughout the county that are available for any person to deposit substances and citizens are urged to deposit any such substance in the boxes. The medication drop boxes are located within the Bradford City Police Department, Bradford Township Police Department, Kane Borough Municipal Building, McKean County Sheriffs’ Department and Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run.

Parents should be on the lookout for tin foil or baggies containing powder or crystalized substance.