Reports from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department indicate that a tragic incident in Lakewood has left one man dead and three others hospitalized due to a suspected fentanyl overdose.
Emergency responders were called to a residence on Dillman Street around 1 a.m. on Sunday after receiving reports that four individuals had stopped breathing as a result of a possible fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, can lead to respiratory failure when consumed in excessive amounts.
Tragically, one man was pronounced dead at the scene, while three other adults were quickly transported to the hospital. Their current medical conditions are unknown.
Authorities will need to await the results of laboratory testing to confirm whether fentanyl was indeed the cause of these overdoses. Fentanyl has been linked to a rising number of fatalities both locally and nationwide.
In 2022, fentanyl emerged as the leading cause of accidental drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County, surpassing methamphetamine, as reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Over 1,900 individuals lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses in the county that year.
