Overdose deaths in Calcasieu Parish doubling in 2021
Overdose deaths in Calcasieu Parish doubling in 2021 By Rania Kaur | March 11, 2021 at 7:53 PM CST - Updated March 11 at 7:53 PM
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - As of March 9, there have been 19 deaths in Calcasieu due to drug overdose in 2021.
With an average of two deaths per week, Charlie Hunter, Chief Investigator for the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office says the alarming increase of overdose deaths is due to the highly potent opioid fentanyl that’s beginning to be unknowingly laced with other common drugs.
“People that are taking these drugs are not knowing what exactly the contents of those drugs are, and unfortunately, they are getting fatal amounts of fentanyl. At most times, the use of Narcan and Naloxone cannot reverse the effects of the opioid.”