Categories: Chicago

Peoria County facing Designer Drug

The toxicology results have come forward that had been pending on drug-related death cases in Peoria County. The content of the drugs responsible for the cause of death raises some concern over what is circling in the area. New Emerging Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

The cases were reported from October 2019 to December 2019. The cases were entirely independent of each other. The cases may be independent of each other but contained an isolated substance in them that resulted in the death of the said individual. In the toxicology case in October 2019, an atypical antidepressant used in the treatment of major depressive disorder-Tianeptine was used.

DEA says that Tianeptine has recently emerged on the illicit drug market in the United States. The law enforcement authorities have found the substance in various forms including bulk powder, counterfeit pills mimicking hydrocodone and oxycodone, and heroin. In the toxicology report from November 2019, Xylazine was found. Xylazine is commonly found in tranquilizer or sedative for large animals.

The toxicology report also found heroin and fentanyl. However, the Xylazine was of the most concern for the cause of death, due to the concentration. In the toxicology report in December 2019, Isotonitazene, a potent NPS opioid, was found. The substance was mixed with cocaine. The surprising thing is that over the last three years, Isotonitazene had not been previously detected in any toxicology report in Peoria County.

The three drugs discovered are game-changers in the fight against opioid and opioid-related drug deaths for a few reasons.

  • First: the user will most likely not know that the designer drug is present and, therefore, would not know the consequences
  • Second: if a person does become unresponsive and quits breathing after use, Narcan most likely will not be strong enough to reverse the effects, especially if mixed with other drugs, like heroin and or fentanyl.
Gabriella Remillard

Staff writer for the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

Ice cream makers to drop artificial colors by 2028

A sweeping change is coming to America’s frozen dessert aisle. More than 90% of U.S. ice cream manufacturers, representing the…

1 day ago

Chicago Fire Earns First Point in Atlanta Since 2018

Chicago Fire FC and Atlanta United FC battled to a 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night, marking a…

2 days ago

Zuckerberg’s Mega AI Plan Targets AGI Race

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced an ambitious initiative to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into constructing a vast…

2 days ago

Back-to-School Deals Fuel $24.1B Online Spending Surge

U.S. consumers helped set a new online retail record this past week, spending a staggering $24.1 billion from July 8…

3 days ago

Ohtani, Torres Lead 2025 MLB All-Star Game Lineups

The stage is set for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, with both leagues revealing their starting lineups for Tuesday night’s…

4 days ago

Flash Floods Slam Northeast as Storms Trigger Emergencies

Flash flooding swept across parts of the Northeast on Monday evening, as a slow-moving weather front delivered heavy thunderstorms and…

4 days ago