A mother who lost her son to an accidental overdose in September is speaking out after two other teens overdosed in Bellevue last weekend.
The boys, one from Bellevue and the other from Yarrow Point, thought they were taking the painkiller, Percocet. But the pills are believed to have been laced with fentanyl. Luckily, both of those teens survived.
However, Bellevue police detective Jim Keene said this is an example that highlights the fentanyl crisis.
“You must assume that any pills not purchased with a prescription contain fentanyl. Fentanyl is extremely addictive and lethal in very small doses. It’s cheap to make and dealers manufacture their own pills using fentanyl. These young men are lucky to have survived,” said Keene.
Keene said several years ago, when fentanyl was becoming more visible on the streets, it was easy to spot. Fake pills crumbled easily and noticeable fake imprints. Now, the pills look exactly like something you would get at the pharmacy or have in your cabinet.