Preliminary toxicology results recently showed that the child had heroin and fentanyl in his system — a lethal mixture that has claimed numerous lives across the country, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle said. But the circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown — and the state attorney says she wants answers. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is quickly becoming a major contributor to the U.S. addiction crisis. Opioid deaths have continued to spike, with more than 33,000 fatalities across the country in 2015 — the highest toll in recent history, according to data released by the CDC. In May in Ohio, a police officer accidentally overdosed on fentanyl when he got a white powder on his hand.

Source: Washington Post July 18, 2017 21:54 UTC