The Cortland County Public Health Department and the Cortland County Mental Health Department is alerting the Cortland Community on recent reports that show widespread fentanyl contamination in the local illicit drug supply.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Contamination of street drugs with illegally made fentanyl is the primary driver of the recent increase in overdose deaths, with the fastest age group dying because of this is among 14 to 23 years old nationally.
Fentanyl is also a highly addictive synthetic substance that is added into illicit street drugs to increase consumption but is also highly associated with risk of overdose death.
Never use alone:
-You can call a friend or call the Never Use Alone hotline: 1 (800) 997-2280
Use fentanyl testing strips as a precaution:
-You can get these from the Southern Tier AIDS Program through their Cortland Mobile Team (607-725-6335 or 607-725-6847) or by calling/texting 607-882-4858
Carry Narcan and be trained in its use:
-You can get Narcan (naloxone) from the Southern Tier AIDS Program Mobile Unit (607-725-6335 or
607-725-6847), Family Counselling Services (753-0234, ext.159), Healing Hearts Collaborative (607-
283-6378), or many pharmacies (at little or no cost, if you have prescription insurance coverage)
