LYNN — During a recent one-week period, the Police Department and emergency medical services personnel responded to five opiate overdoses involving four victims whose ages range from 14 to 20. According to a statement released by the city Monday, the four juveniles were transported to the hospital and one is in critical condition.
The four individuals all reside in the city and ingested a substance they believed was heroin, the statement said. The city added that none of them had previous encounters with the Police Department for drug-related issues.
“Based on our investigation so far, we believe that they only recently started using opioids,” the statement read. “Our main concern is to prevent future overdoses. Therefore, we are working with all partners in the community to direct this advisory to all parents, families, and guardians.”
The Police Department is currently investigating the source of the illegal drugs, according to the city.
“The drugs likely contained fentanyl, which can be extremely potent and cause immediate distress or death. We strongly encourage parents and guardians to have conversations with children regarding the dangers of using opiates,” the statement read.
The Lynn Police Department Behavioral Health Unit, Eliot Community Behavioral Health Center, Massachusetts Substance Abuse Hotline, and SAMHSA National Substance Abuse Hotline all have resources for information and support for those using illegal drugs, according to the statement.
The city also has free Narcan nasal-spray kits and training sessions at City Hall. Narcan is a medication that can help people who are overdosing on opioids.
The kits contain two doses of four-milligram naloxone nasal spray, fentanyl test strips, a mouth guard in case mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is necessary, instructions on how to use Narcan, and other educational resources.
