Grand Island officials spread awareness following fentanyl overdoses

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- Fentanyl-related overdoses in Grand Island continue to rise causing health officials to raise awareness.

In March, a rampant spike in overdoses lead to the drug enforcement administration investigating fentanyl and how it’s gotten into Nebraska.

The wave of fentanyl sweeping Nebraska is causing “mass overdoses,” and Grand Island officials are calling it an epidemic.

Central District Health Department’s health supervisor Collette Evans says she’s unsure how the drug is entering the community.

“I think that the most current epidemic that we’re experiencing is drugs that are being cut with fentanyl,” said Evans. “The buyers are the folks that are purchasing who aren’t necessarily aware of really what they’re purchasing,”

She believes Narcan, a treatment for opioid overdose, can slow the rate at which the drug can take effect on a user, and save their life.

“What we are hopeful of is that we will have a majority of the pharmacies cover carrying Narcan for free distribution,” said Evans. “And by that, I mean they don’t have to go to a physician and get a prescription and then take that to the pharmacy and get it filled.”

As officials in the Grand Island community pull together to spread awareness, Evans says the increased concern should draw attention to other cities as well.

“We’re in a crisis with overdose and that is the epidemic and we need to draw attention to it. We need to build our resources, and we need to work really hard on prevention methods.”

As demand for the drug continues to increase around the state, it leaves many in fear of how and when it will hit Lincoln.

Channel 8 is currently working with the Department of Health and Human Services to bring forth new information on current cases across the state.