Fentanyl is Byram’s top drug concern
By Terry Murry on Thursday, May 6th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Fentanyl has been linked to a recent kidnapping and assault in Pendleton. Police Chief Chuck Byram says the powerful synthetic opioid has become his department’s number-one narcotics concern because its dangers stem far beyond the addict.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into when you deal with people who have those pills or powder anymore because it can be transmitted into the blood stream transdermally,” Byram said.
Law enforcement officers and K9 officers both have had to be treated with Narcan after being exposed to the substance, which is 50-100 times more powerful than heroin.
“Only a little bit can kill you, especially if you haven’t developed a tolerance for it,” he said. “It’s high on our radar.”
Originally fentanyl was almost exclusively manufactured in China. That has changed, with Mexican cartels joining the market.
