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There’s a new threat looming over northwestern Pennsylvania. Erie County fentanyl is now being adulterated with industrial chemicals. And it’s claiming lives.
Street fentanyl laced with Tinuvin 770 has been found across the county. Also known as BTMPS, Tinuvin 770 is an industrial grade corrosive. This widely available chemical is a white powder indistinguishable from fentanyl and is used as cheap filler in street pills.
The Erie County DA Drug Task Force first detected BTMPS in street fentanyl back in March. An April search warrant led to the seizure of several hundred grams worth of pills from a local dealer.
Dr. Amy Gallaher Miles of UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor called the confiscation a “wake up call.” She noted that many users believe that their dealers are their friends when in fact manufacturers and dealers of street drugs actually have little regard for their clientele’s safety.
Experts observe that Tinuvin 770 has made Erie County fentanyl much deadlier. Ingesting this chemical can lead to vision loss and skin rashes. Severe cases include infertility and harm to unborn children. In addition to physical harm, BTMPS can hamper the effectiveness of Narcan and other overdose reversal efforts.
Rick Lorah is the Deputy Chief of the Erie Police Department. He reiterated that law enforcement continues to double down on the eradication of all Erie County street drugs. Despite their efforts, BTMPS laced street fentanyl has been found across 14 states and is reportedly entering the U.S. from across the southern border.
