Lubbock County Medical Examiners Office report a significant decrease in Fentanyl-related deaths since the major drug bust in October 2016. However, they find another addictive drug has claimed the lives of others in its place.
A major drug operation was exposed on October 27, 2016 when different local and state law enforcement agencies raided an apartment and found large amounts of Fentanyl.
Documents state the drug was purchased from the Darknet in China and mixed with other drugs here in Lubbock before it was sold.
Related Link: Lubbock Fentanyl Distributors Sentenced
The drug bust exposed an on-going issue in the South Plains that was going on for years. However, after the sting operation, law enforcement agencies have contained the threat and report a decrease in activity.
“The concern for Fentanyl had been building up,” Lubbock County Medical Examiner Dr. Sridhar Natarajan said. “The various types of Fentanyl that are out there, the chemical variations of Fentanyl not only because of the potency or very small amounts that could cause a death in an individual, very unexpectedly.”
Natarajan told EverythingLubbock.com the average Fentanyl-user in the Lubbock area is a young adult, ranging in age from 20 to 30 years old. However, their office has reported approximately 75% less Fentanyl-related death cases since this drug bust.
Lubbock Police said it is now harder to find this drug on the streets. However, they have reported an increase in Heroin. Natarajan said they have also seen a 50% increase in Methamphetamine-related deaths over the last year.
