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Drug enforcement personnel both locally and regionally are warning people about the prevalence of lethal-dose "fake" pills.
Their warning is in the wake of two Ohio State University students dying earlier this month after taking prescription Adderall pills laced with fentanyl.
Sheriff Capt. Michael Yannucci, commander of the Trumbull County TAG task force, said his agents have come across both Adderall laced with methamphetamine and Oxycontin pills containing fentanyl.
Because of an open investigation, Yannucci couldn't give details but is concerned that fentanyl could be prevalent in all drugs, even marijuana. Yannucci said he didn't know the origin of the "fake" pills, but said they could have come off pill presses "anywhere from here to Mexico."
"It is just scary to think that many who believe that marijuana is harmless may be killed by it," Yannucci said.
Yannucci said he couldn't allow the confiscated, fake Adderall pills to be photographed because these are also evidence.
Sgt. Larry McLaughlin, commander of the drug task force in Mahoning County, said he hasn't seen any fentanyl-laced Adderall in his area during the last few months, but he warns anyone buying drugs off the street or on the internet to be careful.
"Everything has the potential to be (laced) because of the amount out there," McLaughlin said. "Those with prescriptions need to get them from a doctor and / or certified pharmacy."
Adderall, an amphetamine used to to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, without insurance costs nearly $8 per tablet, or $237.30 per month for an initial dose of one 5 mg tablet once a day. DEA agents warn that Adderall buyers should be wary of anyone selling the drug cheaper online.
A local pharmacist said that drugstore policy states that since Adderall is a controlled drug it must be locked in a safe until a prescription is filled.
OSU WARNING
"Innocently enough, the main cause for Adderall abuse is linked to academics," states a report by American Addiction Centers. "Students claim the drug helps them focus when they are staying up late studying. The benefits carry over into exam taking, as well. Some users say they experience an improved attention span and find themselves better able to concentrate. These elements make it one of the most popular drugs that is used today on college campuses."
But according to Psycom, an online mental health resource, instead of boosting academic success by sharpening concentration, the drugs may worsen short-term memory and leave people jittery and distracted. It concluded: " There is little to no benefit to cognitive performance associated with prescription stimulants when administered to individuals who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD. You're better off signing up with a tutor or taking advantage of other study-support options at your college."
After two died and another was treated for apparent drug overdoses May 4 at an off-campus house in Columbus, OSU President Kristina Johnson warned students of the dangers of using drugs because of the prevalence of contaminated substances.
According to Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Brian K. McNeal in Detroit, counterfeit pills are definitely on the rise not just on college campuses, but everywhere.
"It is critical for everyone's safety to be aware of the possibility of contaminated drugs in our community," Johnson said in a letter to OSU students. The Columbus Public Health District shared an alert about fake Adderall pills laced with the deadly opioid fentanyl, causing an increase in hospitalizations around the Ohio State campus.
Just before 11 a.m. May 4, medics responded to a residence on the first block of East Lane Avenue just east of North High Street in Columbus to find three overdosed. Two, identified as 22-year-old Jessica Lopez and 21-year-old Tiffany Iler, have died, while a third student treated for an overdose has been released from the hospital.
A release from the university stated Lopez was a computer and information science student from Greendale, Ind., and Iler was a neuroscience student from Broadview Heights, a Cleveland suburb.
"We are heartbroken and extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends during this extremely difficult time," the OSU news release states.
ONE PILL CAN KILL
Drug Enforcement Administration agents last year began a campaign called "One Pill Can Kill," warning students, educators, parents, community organizations and other law enforcement that somebody taking a drug for the first time can die because of these "lethal counterfeit mixtures."
A DEA release states counterfeit pills are easy to purchase and widely available on internet sites, including social media.
"Drug dealers are now harnessing the accessibility and anonymity of social media apps to push these deadly drugs into our communities faster, cheaper and easier than ever before," the DEA warns. Those dealing the illicit and deadly substances on social media are known to use code words and emojis in their marketing tactics, the release states.
DEA agents warn that criminal enterprises have flooded the U.S. with fentanyl through mass produced fake prescription pills, marketing them as legitimate prescription medication, such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax and Adderall. This has led to more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths in America during 2021, with 64 percent of these deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.
Some 15,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized in 2021, which the DEA said is enough to supply a potentially lethal dose to every person in the U.S. The DEA said 20.4 million fake pills were seized, with 9.89 million of those seized during a two-phase DEA public safety surge from Aug. 3 to Dec. 14, 2021. Four out of 10 DEA-tested fake pills contained a potentally deadly dose of fentanyl.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.