'Emergency public service announcement' issued over fake pill ODs in Wisconsin county

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WLUK) — A spike in fatal overdoses from counterfeit pills has led sheriff's officials in Winnebago County, Wisconsin to issue what they are calling an "emergency public service announcement."

The Winnebago County Medical Examiner's Office says that, of the 15 overdose deaths so far this year, 12 are attributed to fentanyl. Another seven deaths are under investigation that could be fentanyl overdoses.

In addition, with the use of Narcan to try to reverse overdoses, investigators suspect dozens or even hundreds more deaths may be tied to counterfeit pills.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (FDA) says counterfeit pills can often be made to look like medications such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax or Adderall. They may have no active ingredient, the wrong active ingredient or the correct ingredient in an incorrect quantity. They may also have lethal amounts of fentanyl or methamphetamine.

Sheriff's office officials say the Winnebago County area has been seeing M30 pills – imitation Oxycontin – that test positive for lethal amounts of fentanyl.