Police in Virginia issued a warning to Prince William County residents about fentanyl-laced drugs following the deaths of two teenagers within a 48-hour period.
A 15-year-old died Sunday, and a 14-year-old died Tuesday, and investigators have connected both deaths to fentanyl-laced opioids, according to county police. The cause of the deaths is still under investigation by the medical examiner’s office, but law enforcement officials have noted “strong suspicions” that the two had overdosed after consuming the narcotics.
“The Police Department recognizes our youth population as most susceptible to peer influence and pressures,” the department said in a statement. “We implore parents and guardians to take immediate action to actively engage with their children and loved ones as soon as possible about the dangers of drug use and encourage constructive dialogue to prevent further deaths and illness.”
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Police believe the teenagers overdosed after consuming counterfeit Percocet, a pain reliever containing oxycodone and acetaminophen, that was laced with fentanyl.
The incident reflects a larger trend in the United States over the past few years, with more than 100,000 people dying from overdoses between April 2020 and April 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several of these deaths were determined to be overdoses from synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.
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The two deaths in Virginia are still under investigation to determine the source of the narcotics, the Prince William County Police Department confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
