Overdoses falsely linked to fentanyl-laced marijuana
A state Department of Public Health report in November that indicated nearly 40 Connecticut overdoses were possibly linked to fentanyl-laced marijuana — sparking widespread attention and concern — turned out to be one confirmed case that was probably caused by accidental contamination, an investigation has revealed.
In November, the state DPH said there were 39 recent overdose incidents officials believed to be associated with fentanyllaced marijuana. At the time, the state said the patients required naloxone revival and they “denied any opioid use and claimed to have only smoked marijuana.”
The state also said police in Plymouth obtained a sample at one scene that tested positive for fentanyl — believed at the time to be the first confirmed case of fentanyl-laced marijuana in the country, officials said.
However, Chris Boyle, a spokesperson for DPH, said a full analysis has now revealed at least 30 of the 39 overdoses were among patients with histories of opioid use.
Boyle said the Plymouth sample was the only one that has tested positive for fentanyl. The state reviewed all marijuana samples submitted to the state Division of Scientific Services Lab from July 1 to Nov. 30 and found no other cannabis submissions that contained fentanyl, Boyle said.
“Based on the information gathered since the positive confirmation of marijuana with fentanyl, the CT ORS (Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy) assesses that the positive confirmation of marijuana with fentanyl was likely accidental contamination and an isolated incident,” Boyle wrote in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media.
The contamination likely occurred when the dealer “failed to clean their instruments before processing the marijuana and cross-contaminated it with fentanyl,” Boyle said.
“Anything bought off the street, including cannabis, has the potential to contain other substances, one of those being fentanyl,” Boyle added.
“CT DPH has documented evidence, from not just the State Police Forensics Lab, but from the DEA lab as verification of the seized drug sample, that cannabis was contaminated with fentanyl.”
Cannabis advocates have said claims of fentanyllaced marijuana are often myths that fuel panic around drug use.
“Despite this claim receiving prominent headlines over the past several years, there exist few, if any, confirmed cases of these claims being substantiated,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.