ODs spike in Plymouth County — amid concerns about fentanyl, animal tranquilizer xylazine
Plymouth County tallied more fatal drug overdoses in the first 19 days of December than in any other entire month in 2022, according to research by Plymouth County Outreach.
Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) — a collaborative of local police departments working to reduce the number of overdose deaths and support people with substance use disorders — recently issued an alert regarding the spike in overdoses.
From January through November, Plymouth County saw an average of nine fatal overdoses per month, according to Vicky Butler, executive director of PCO.
But there were 13 fatal overdoses in Plymouth County between Dec. 1 and 19 alone.
That's compared to eight fatal overdoses in November and 11 fatal overdoses in October.
"PCO and its partners want the public, especially individuals at risk for overdose and their families and friends, to be aware of the increased risk of an overdose and what action they can take," said PCO's announcement. "The holidays are a difficult time for many, and PCO wants community members to know that they are not alone."
Butler also said that in Plymouth County and across the nation substances purchased off the street, like the synthetic opioid fentanyl, could be mixed with "non-opioid substances such as cocaine and street pills marked as Xanax."
Butler said that there was a monthly average of 69 nonfatal overdoses in the county from January to November.
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Concerns over xylazine
PCO reported that these drugs could also be mixed with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that does not respond to Narcan.
Narcan is an overdose-reversing medication that, according to PCO, saved 94% of people the medication was administered to in 2021 in Plymouth County.
Although it’s being used as an additive to opioids, xylazine is not an opioid and, therefore, will not respond to Narcan.
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Recognizing the signs of a possible overdose
Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped
Face very pale
Cool, clammy skin
Choking sounds or a gurgling noise (death rattle)
Pulse (heartbeat) is slow erratic or has stopped
Blue/gray skin tinge — usually lips and fingers show first, sometimes in tips of ears
Loss of consciousness — passing out
Body becomes very limp
Life-saving measures to reverse an overdose
Narcan, the medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, is readily available throughout the county free of charge, no questions asked, including at these locations:
By calling Plymouth County Outreach, 774-434-5072, or reaching out through the website's connect page: plymouthcountyoutreach.org/connect
Bamsi Brockton Cope Center, 74 Pleasant St., Brockton; 508-583-3405
Bamsi Plymouth Cope Center, 385 Court St., Plymouth, basement suite; 508-942-0679
PCO Hope, 385 Court St., Plymouth; 774-283-4763
Manet Community Health Center, 180 George Washington Boulevard, Hull; 781-925-4550
Local pharmacies have an open/standing prescription for everyone. This means you can go to your pharmacy to ask for Narcan. The cost will be whatever your insurance co-pay is.
Treatment and support
Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050 or helplinema.org
If you or a loved one is at-risk of an overdose and looking to access treatment, reach out to your local Plymouth County police department and ask to speak with a Plymouth County Outreach officer, contact PCO through its website at plymouthcountyoutreach.org/connect or call 774-434-5072.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: ODs spike in Plymouth County — amid concerns about fentanyl, xylazine
