Sohn: Drug deaths offer stark warnings

This undated file photo provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows fake Oxycodone pills that are actually fentanyl that were seized and submitted to bureau crime labs. Tainted drugs — not necessarily looking like these — are suspected in at least four recently Chattanooga deaths. (Tommy Farmer/Tennessee Bureau of Investigation via AP) This undated file photo provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows fake Oxycodone pills that are actually fentanyl that were seized and submitted to bureau crime labs. Tainted drugs — not necessarily looking like these — are suspected in at least four recently Chattanooga deaths. (Tommy Farmer/Tennessee Bureau of Investigation via AP)

By Pam Sohn June 14, 2019 5 min read

Hearing of drug overdoses – especially fatal ones – in our community is bad enough.

Hearing of at least four – maybe five – overdose deaths in the span of one day is horrifying.

Chattanooga police on Tuesday evening issued a somber warning, noting, “the number of overdose deaths [they say four though a local anti-drug group says five] in a short period of time is indicative of extremely dangerous drugs being sold and used.”

Police urged the public to be mindful of the warning and to call 911 quickly if they witness an overdose – and not leave that person alone.

Police have been close-mouthed about the deaths – perhaps too much so. While we understand these cases are still under investigation, the public still doesn’t even know exactly what drug or drugs to be careful of. Nor do we know anything of the victims other than that they were all adult men and women in their mid-20s to mid-40s, located in “various” places.