Two infants in Arizona have tested positive for fentanyl within the last week as the deadly opioid continues to pour over the open Southern Border.
Fox News reports Phoenix police officers discovered an infant exposed to fentanyl on Wednesday morning. Authorities treated the baby, and is expected to survive.
The incident marks the department’s second case in less than a week after officers saved another infant’s life with a dose of Narcan after suspicion of exposure to the drug.
“When they arrived, they located a family with a young infant that appeared lethargic with shallow breathing,” a police spokesperson told the outlet. “The infant was treated with Narcan on scene and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The infant is expected to survive.”
Blood tests would later show the infant tested positive for fentanyl.
Police said that detectives with the Crimes Against Children unit took over the investigation.
“A search warrant was obtained for the parents’ apartment where evidence of fentanyl was located,” police said in statement. “Currently, there are no arrests however, the investigation remains active.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warned many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths.
“Clandestinely-produced fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico,” DEA officials said according to Fox News.
In August, DEA officials issued a formal warning to the public about the rise of candy-colored “rainbow fentanyl.”
Fentanyl is one of the strongest synthetic opioids in circulation; it is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. A lethal dose of fentanyl is just two milligrams, roughly equal to 10-15 grains of table salt.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that methods of exposure to fentanyl can be absorbed into the body via inhalation, oral exposure or ingestion, or skin contact — with inhalation of fentanyl resulting in rapid absorption.
It is impossible to tell how much fentanyl is concentrated in a particular pill or powder sample. However, despite claims that some colors are more potent than others, DEA reported that lab testing indicated no such relationship between color and potency.
“Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous,” the agency said.
Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration formally warned the public about the rise of candy-colored “rainbow fentanyl.”
The Daily Wire reported that the DEA warned the public to be aware of the “emerging trend” of colorful fentanyl pills becoming available nationwide. The drug is available in brightly colored pills, powder, and blocks that look like sidewalk chalk.
The DEA noted that drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18-45.
Data from the CDC showed that 107,622 Americans died of overdoses in 2021 — the largest number on record.