BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a couple of fentanyl overdose cases in Barton County.
In the past two weeks, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office responded to two separate suspected fentanyl overdoses that required emergency medical treatment, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
In both incidents the individuals became unresponsive and EMS, as well as law enforcement, were called. In both cases, law enforcement authorities have reason to believe suspected fentanyl had been ingested shortly prior to the individual becoming unconscious. In both cases, the patient has survived.
Kansas, as well as most of the United States, has seen an increase in the presence fentanyl in the last two or three years. In many cases the drug is disguised as pharmaceutical pain medication.
The precursor chemicals are being shipped from China to Mexico where they are synthesized into fentanyl. The drug is then smuggled across the border.
According to the sheriff, "we have seen far more fentanyl in the last two years than ever before. All patrol units, as well as the jail, are equipped with Narcan in the event an officer is accidentally exposed or we need to render aid to a citizen.We are currently investigating the local sources of these two overdose cases."