Dealers are flooding Florida with bogus party drugs that could be ‘100 percent fentanyl’ as they exploit the spring break madness, state officials warn.
They are using social media to advertise drugs including Xanax, cocaine and ecstasy to tens of thousands of students who have descended on the Sunshine State – but law enforcement chiefs fear the substances are mixed with deadly amounts of fentanyl.
Health officials are also braced for a spike in accidental overdoses amid the surge, with one charity expecting to hand out 5,000 doses of naloxone – which is used to reverse the fentanyl’s effects – to partygoers.
Some dealers are using popular social media apps including Snapchat and Instagram to advertise party drugs. Others patrol the busiest party spots and peddle substances in broad daylight.
Officials in Fort Lauderdale are so concerned they are offering free roofie tests so people can ensure their drinks have not been spiked with date rape drugs.
As thousands of students flock to Florida for spring break, state officials have warned about party drugs which are cut with ‘deadly amounts of fentanyl’
Florida’s attorney general has warned dealers are using social media to sell drugs, which are advertised using emoji code. But many party drugs are mixed with deadly fentanyl
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said: ‘It’s spring break season. All month long, millions of students will descend on Florida’s beaches for a long-awaited break from school.
‘While we hope everyone enjoys a safe, fun-filled vacation, it’s important that spring breakers understand and are mindful of the dangers of drug use. Deadly amounts of fentanyl are being found in almost every illicit substance now.’
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said: ‘Deadly amounts of fentanyl are being found in almost every illicit substance now’
Tens of thousands of rowdy students have already descended on Fort Lauderdale, which is the epicenter of this year’s celebrations after nearby Miami Beach imposed restrictions to try and curb the chaos.
Photographs published by DailyMail.com show beaches are bars are already buzzing ahead of the two week extravaganza. In one video, a young woman boasts her day starts with ‘bronzer and cocaine’.
But officials are concerned many partygoers are unaware that drugs they buy on the street or through social media during spring break could contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid which is 100 times stronger than morphine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has found that around seven in ten illicit pills contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Many are sold as other substances and users have no idea of the deadly risk.
Mike Chitwood, Sheriff of Volusia County Sheriff, which includes the hugely popular Daytona Beach, said: ‘We know that spring break, there’s gonna be party drugs involved in this…
‘You’re buying this stuff on the street, there’s a good chance you’re ingesting 100% fentanyl.’
Moody, the Attorney General, has warned that dealers use social media target young people.
‘Online drug dealers use emoji codes to peddle dangerous substances to our kids through social media,’ she said.
Common symbols include the snowflake, eight ball and key for cocaine. Adderall, xanax and percocet are typically represented by a pill capsule, while meth can be advertised with a crystal ball or diamond emoji.
Care Resource, a Florida healthcare nonprofit, said it will once again hand out free doses of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, to students on spring break – after providing 4,900 doses during last year’s celebrations.
The drug reverses an opioid overdose and partygoers are encouraged to carry it even if they have no intention of using such drugs, because of the risk they may ingest fentanyl unintentionally.
Beaches are bars in Fort Lauderdale are already buzzing ahead of the two week extravaganza
Police patrol a beach in Fort Lauderdale during spring break on Tuesday, March 12 2024
Naloxone is given out by Care Resource’s Special Purpose Outreach Team, known as SPOT, which protects young people from ‘the unsuspecting danger of recreational drugs laced with fentanyl’.
The organization has also warned about the rise in xylazine, a potentially lethal veterinary sedative which is also cut into party drugs.
‘Many spring breakers don’t realize that the substances they are purchasing on the street might be laced with fentanyl or xylazine,’ SPOT manager Emelina Martinez warned.
In March 2022, several cadets from West Point military academy had to be revived when they suffered a fentanyl overdose after using cocaine which was laced with the substance.
Four people went into cardiac arrest after consuming the substance before two more also overdosed when they tried to administer CPR. The incident happened at a rental home in Wilton Manors.
Research published by UCLA health has found about 22 teenagers aged 14 to 18 die across the country each year after taking counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.