On Thursday evening, Lake County scanner traffic and social media indicated a rash of overdoses clustered in Lake County. One resident said the overdoses “hit like wildfire” after pills being marketed as Ecstacy/MDMA resulted in at least one confirmed death, two confirmed hospitalizations, and one individual requiring two doses of Narcan to be revived.
In a statement issued by Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s Public Information Officer Lieutenant Corey Paulich, “The Sheriff’s Office has become aware of several social media posts and photos related to unknown types of pills that could be related to recent overdoses or deaths.
Lt. Paulich said, “The Sheriff’s Office is not able to authenticate these photos because we do not know when or by who they were taken.” He warned, “This does not mean the pills in these photos are not dangerous.”
Regarding the pills’ role in death from last night, Lt. Paulich said, “The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation where the pills in the photo depicted may have played a role in the death. The actual cause of death will not be known for some time pending an autopsy and toxicology results. “
Flaman McCloud, a Wellness Coordinator for Big Valley Rancheria in Lake County, provided crisis response to rancheria residents overdosing on these pills Thursday evening. He told us people who were given the pills were told they were Ecstacy/MDMA.
His response to the overdoses started when he “got a call at about 6:30 that some of our members were taken to the hospital unresponsive. One of them passed away. The other is in stable condition.”
McCloud said he went to another rancheria, responding to an individual who had taken the pills. The individual “refused medical help, so I administered two doses of Narcan.” McCloud said that the individual went on to recover.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., scanner traffic indicated that a patient was suffering from an overdose in Upper Lake. At approximately 9:30 p.m., a patient at the Big Valley Rancheria was given Narcan and transported to Sutter Hospital. It is unclear whether the overdoses described in scanner traffic were the same ones McCloud described.
“Several people, older and younger, were in possession of these pills, and they were given to me to be destroyed,” McCloud said.
McCloud said he was “99%” certain that the pills were not Ecstacy/MDMA, but most likely fentanyl, an inexpensive, powerful opioid.
In December, a corrections officer and inmate required medical intervention after exposure to fentanyl in the Mendocino County Jail. Afterward, Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall addressed the local rise of fentanyl and its role in the dramatic upswing in overdoses compared to years past. In a message to residents he published on Facebook, he said, “I fear overdoses will increase, and we may see more unintended exposures to the drug, to persons who are helping victims.”
McCloud, who provided an image of the suspect drugs, expressed concern that “We don’t know how far these pills have gone off our Rancheria, but that photo needs to be shared. These pills are dangerous.” He thought it a “possibility the pills would make it Mendocino County.” McCloud said he heard that someone “was planning on taking some of these to Covelo.”
If any resident suspects someone has overdosed on fentanyl, Sheriff Kendall warned in December:
“If you must approach the victim please be aware of your surroundings. Understand fentanyl could be on their person, clothing, or in the area you found them. The powder is so fine it may be undetectable to you. In order to help others, you must take care of yourself so you can make the 911 call to first responders.”
In an advisory to the public, Lake County’s Lt. Paulich said, “The Sheriff’s Office would like to advise the public that they should not take any medication/pills that have not been prescribed to them by a physician or provided to them by a pharmacist.”
Lt. Paulich is asking the public that “if anyone in the public finds or comes into possession of these types of pills that they contact the Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement so the pills can be handled safely.” Residents in Lake County have the option to utilize an anonymous dropbox. Paulich added, “[Y]ou can dispose of the pills in a SafeRx Disposal Drop Box located in the Sheriff’s Office lobby located at 1220 Martin Street, Lakeport.”
IT didnt have an FDA sticker on the btl, plain ol common sense would make sumbody reluctant to even touch this poison with their hands,
But their standin in line to injest this poison, Where the hell is common sense an sanity. these drugs are made to make money, not to help with any common malady.
Then when they get sick, an need millions of dollars from us taxpayers, the sky is the limit on medical costs. when all you had to do is say no.
AMAZING
really got to be carefull,, Jake anderson is a good frnd of mine , now my nephews has has no uncle,, He was a real sweet kid, and trusting,if this isnt what killed himpls whatch out,it could be yours