LPD on alert for recent string of cocaine overdoses

At least eight overdoses in the past two days have been connected to cocaine use. Of particular concern is cocaine laced with fentanyl.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Police Department says we’re seeing a spike in overdoses in Lincoln.

At least eight overdoses in the past two days have been connected to cocaine use. Of particular concern is cocaine laced with fentanyl.

CenterPointe’s Topher Hansen explains why the two drugs make for a dangerous mix.

“The fentanyl-laced cocaine is a mix of drugs, one that takes you up high, gives you energy and the other one that slows you down so you’re going in two different directions at the same time,” Hansen said.

According to LPD, the city has had 46 overdose victims in the past month, with over 133 victims of overdose already this year,

Hansen says that people overdosing on cocaine is not typical, as the drug lacks the intensity of other drugs, like fentanyl, that are known to trigger overdoses.

“Fentanyl, what it does is it works on your respiration, on the centers of your brain that causes you to breathe, and basically will stop your breathing, which then causes cardiac arrest and you’re dead,” Hansen said.

LPD says they’ve seen several drugs laced with fentanyl, including meth, heroin, oxycodone. Cocaine laced with fentanyl is a more recent development.

In 2020, Lincoln experienced 76% more overdoses than the average of the previous five years.

Hansen says this is no coincidence: drug and alcohol use have been skyrocketing since the start of the pandemic.

“Because of the pandemic and all the changes everybody had to make in society, then it just started amplifying mental health issues, anxiety and depression being the two primaries, and people started compensating for that,” Hansen said.

Hansen says CenterPointe is partnering with LPD on ways to intervene in fentanyl-related overdoses as early as possible.

“The important message here is that [cocaine laced with fentanyl] is out there, it’s super powerful, it will kill you, and [people] need to stay away from it,” Hansen said.