Warning of new drug stronger than fentanyl as three people die of overdose just days apart

A NEW drug stronger than fentanyl has killed three people in an overdose as officials warn the public about the new substance on the streets.

The deaths, recorded between February 12 and 14, have rocked the upstate portion of Oconee County, South Carolina.

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Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis on Tuesday identified the drug as protonitazene, which he describes as a new synthetic opioid with no medically accepted uses.

Addis said the drug was responsible for the deaths of a 24-year-old woman, who died at her Westminster home, and two men, aged 65 and 45, who were found dead outside their West Union home.

He said the drug could come in pill or powder form.

The medic said the drug is new to the area and wants to raise awareness for people living in the area.

Addis explained that residents in the state of South Carolina, northeastern Georgia and western North Carolina should be vigilant about the drug.

The Drug Enforcement Agency defines fentanyl as a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times more potent than morphine.

According to the DEA, fentanyl is also known by the street names Apace, China Girl, China Town, China White, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Poison, and Tango & Cash.

TRAGIC DEATHS

The drug is responsible for the deaths of several notable names, including rapper Mac Miller, actor Michael K. William and singer Prince.

In September 2018, 26-year-old Miller died at his home in Los Angeles from complications of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.

Three men have since been arrested for their role in selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to the rapper, who reportedly solicited the pain reliever Percocet.

Ryan Reavis, 39, has been sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to supplying fentanyl-spiked oxycodone to Miller.

According to US prosecutors, Reavis knew the pills were laced with fentanyl when he distributed them to Miller’s drug dealer Cameron Jame Pettit, 30.

Reavis was the only one of the three to be convicted.

Actor Williams became the youngest celebrity to die from the drug after buying fentanyl-laced heroin, which led to his death last September.

The NYC Chief Medical Examiner confirmed last September that the beloved “The Wire” actor died on September 6 at his Brooklyn penthouse from a deadly drug mix.

The official cause of death was “acute intoxication from the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.”

Four men have since been arrested in connection with the star’s overdose.

One of the four, named Irvin Cartagena, also known as the Green Eyes, was charged in early February with distributing the fentanyl-laced heroin that allegedly killed the actor.

Alleged co-conspirators Hector Robles aka Oreja, Luis Cruz aka Mostro and Carlos Macci aka Carlito were also charged as members of the fentanyl and heroin conspiracy.