LAS VEGAS (AP) — Health officials in Las Vegas are warning of a spike in deaths involving the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl and similar drugs.
The Southern Nevada Health District said Monday the region has had more than twice as many fentanyl overdose deaths this year than last year. The 63 deaths involving fentanyl among Clark County residents since January is almost equal to the 64 fentanyl deaths in all of 2019.
The acting chief health officer calls fentanyl a growing public health risk. He recommends that people close opioid users consider carrying the overdose reversal drug commonly known as Narcan.