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Dangerous drug alert issued after at least 2 carfentanil deaths

WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington County Coroner's Office is issuing a dangerous drug alert after two people died from carfentanil overdoses recently.

The deadly drug, commonly used as an elephant tranquilizer, may also be linked to a third death.

Investigators want to find who is responsible before they cause any more deaths.

“It can kill a lot of people in a very short period of time in a small area. It's an extremely deadly drug,” said District Attorney Gene Vittone.

A local coroner's office is issuing a dangerous drug alert after two people died.

Posted by WPXI-TV Pittsburgh on Friday, February 2, 2018

No arrests have been made.

“People need to know, and you think this would be obvious to them, you don't know what you're getting when you buy something on the street,” Vittone said.

Carfentanil is often found mixed with heroin, causing a deadly result. But investigators say preliminary blood work of the two overdose victims showed traces of carfentanil and cocaine, not heroin.

Vittone told 11 Investigates it's unclear if those facts are linked.

“I think it raises the question, though, as to was this part of cocaine they bought not even realizing they were getting this extremely powerful opioid as part of the cocaine?” he said.

It's a question those on the recovery side are asking as well.

Erich Curnow works to get addicts help through the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission. Lately, he's seen a rise in the number of people using cocaine, a move for addicts that could create a false sense of security.

“If I haven't progressed so far in my addiction that I have some measure of fear of using narcotics or opioids, cocaine is a much safer option at this point,” he said.

Channel 11 spoke to DEA agents who warned not to jump to any conclusions about dealers mixing carfentanil and cocaine, saying it's more likely the victims used multiple drugs.

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