**Public Service Announcement**

Law Enforcement in Erie County are seeing an overwhelming amount of overdoses and deaths as the result of the use of counterfeit pills known on the street as “blues” or “percs”. 

Blue fentanyl powder is being pressed into pills that are made to look like a prescription oxycodone pill, down to the letter “M” and number “30” stamped on them, as seen in these photographs. In some occasions, these pills are being sold as Percocet pills for recreational drug use. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine. 

These counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl are deadly. A lethal dose of fentanyl is about 2-3 milligrams, equivalent to the size of a few grains of salt. Even skin contact alone can be fatal. This synthetic opioid affects the central nervous system and causes respiratory failure leading to death. 

If you suspect someone has been exposed to or ingested these pills, call 911 immediately and be aware that NARCAN can be a life-saving measure if available. 

We urge everyone to be cautious and vigilant related to these pills. If you have any information related to these or any other drugs, please contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.