Fentanyl Switch Believed Linked To Deaths

Lafayette Police, Lafayette Metro Narcotics and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office held a joint press conference today to talk about several deaths that have happened since January involving the drug Fentanyl.

Officials say Fentanyl is being passed off as heroin in this area.

Fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than heroin, and it's effect are fast, but fleeting.

Police say there have been eight deaths in the city, and five in the parish that they believe are due to Fentanyl.

The three agencies say they are continuing to work on tracking down who is responsible for selling the drugs in our community.

Fentanyl is a very addictive opioid and because it is believed dealers were substituting it for heroin, several overdose deaths were later found to be caused by Fentanyl.

Anyone who might have information about the illegal use of Fentanyl is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 232-TIPS.