WSET.com - ABC13Fentanyl Patch Misuse Attributed to Deaths in Campbell County

Reporter: Dhomonique Ricks l Videographer: Steven Smith

Campbell Co., VA – Fentanyl patches are made specifically for people with high levels of pain and are often prescribed to patients in their last stages of life.

They are applied to the skin and often last up to 72 hours, but now they are being abused. Some chew them, some inject them, others will cook them and huff them. And in some cases it can be deadly.

"This patch right here is probably 50 times more powerful than Heroin," said Captain Billy Crowe with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office. "It's pretty much like playing Russian roulette when you eat one."

Campbell County officials say they started seeing the trend two years ago, and the results have been fatal.

"We've had two in the last month," Crowe said. "In the same month in a different jurisdiction, we had one that they were able to revive with CPR."

Campbell County also had two deaths attributed to Fentanyl in 2011. According to the drug's information leaflet, "Fentanyl has a high risk for abuse and severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems. The risk for harm is higher if you take the wrong dose/strength, or if you take it along with other drugs that might also affect breathing." 

The drug is either bought illegally on the street, or much worse.

"They'll either break into homes and steal them. Most of the time in the community, they know who's extremely sick," Crowe said.

They are sold for pretty cheap.

"Street value, $35 and you get a high that's probably going to last you four to six hours," Crowe said.

Officials say it appeals to younger generations.

"It's more in the 18 to 30 year old brackets that we're seeing it commonly done," Crowe said.

Campbell County officials warn that if anyone provides a Fentanyl patch or any type of prescription and someone dies from it as a result, they can be charged with felony homicide.