BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Police believe fentanyl may be involved in the overdose of three men late Wednesday night in Beaumont’s north end.
One man was pronounced dead on the scene and two other men were taken by ambulance to to a Southeast Texas hospital where they are in critical condition according to a news release from police.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story mentioned four people were involved but 12News received incorrect information which has now been corrected.)
When officers arrived at a home in the 2300 block of Tyler St after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters and medics were already working on the men who were all unresponsive.
Officers assisted by administering Narcan to two of the men and deploying an automated external defibrillator, or AED, on the other man while medics performed CPR the release said.
Narcotics officers and detectives responded and after preliminary investigation police believe the men bought counterfeit pills that were laced with fentanyl.
MORE | One Pill Can Kill
Police say the men collapsed after taking the pills.
Crime scene technicians were also sent to the home to gather evidence at the scene according to dispatch records.
Police say they want to remind everyone that it takes less than 2mg of fentanyl mixed into a counterfeit pill to kill someone.
The fake pills, which are widely available and easy to buy, are made to look like prescription opioids often contain the deadly drug according to police.
"It really truly is one pill can kill," said Beaumont police officer Haley Morrow.
In 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration launched its "One Pill Can Kill" campaign.
It aims to share the deadly stories of overdoses. They believe the drug abuse often begins in high school.
"Their life is on track to do great things and they take a pill that they bought from somebody that they think is a prescription pill, and it's not it's a counterfeit pill and it kills them," Morrow said.
Executive Assistant Britt Featherston with the Jefferson County District Attorney's office is a driving force behind the crack down on fentanyl.
"That can fit on the head of the point of a pencil. That's all it takes is to kill one person," Featherston said. "If we catch you we're going to prosecute you to the fullest extent we're gonna put you in jail."
Morrow has a stern warning for anyone buying pills off the street.
"You know, unless you're getting your pills from a licensed pharmacy, you really truly never know what you're going to get," she said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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