Oxycodone And Fentanyl Use On The Rise In North Reading

Since the start of 2016, the North Reading Police Dept. has seen a change in the drugs trending in the town. According to the NRPD, the town has seen a significant increase in the amount of dangerous drugs like 30-milligram Oxycodone pills and Fentanyl.

The NRPD are urging parents in the area to understand that Oxycodone pills, like heroin, are an opiate themselves and once a tolerance to the drug begins to build, the next logical step for a user is heroin-use. Oxycodone can be abused through the following methods: oral use, crushing the pill and snorting its powder, or smoking the pill in tin foil by burning the pill from underneath. Parents and concerned parties are urged to seek treatment for individuals using the drug. Treatment resources are available to the public at www.nrpd.org.

Fentanyl use in North Reading, according to the NRPD, has risen significantly so far in 2016. Many presumptive drug tests of powder seized in 2016 show a positive reading for the drug. Many drug users in the town believe that when they are purchasing heroin, they are actually buying heroin laced with Fentanyl. Fentanyl is over 100 times more potent than heroin and has contributed to many overdoses in Massachusetts. The public needs to be aware that Fentanyl is being sold to look like heroin and addicts are unaware they are using the deadly drug.

Citizens with questions about Fentanyl and Oxycodone abuse are highly encouraged to call NRPD Det. Tom Hatch at (978) 357-5067 or email him at thatch@nrpd.org.

Photo courtesy of The Javorac via Flickr