Mar 30, 2017 By Cara Host 2 min read

Bethel Park police have been dealing with an uptick in drug overdoses along with a dangerous drug cocktail that can also threaten officers.

In response, Bethel Park Council is expected purchase drug containment equipment to help protect first responders from exposure to fentanyl, a powerful opioid that is sometimes mixed with heroin to increase potency.

“We’ve been seeing a remarkable increase in heroin overdoses,” police Chief Tim O’Connor told council at a March 27 committee meeting.

He said Bethel Park saw 45 overdoses last year, and four of those people died.

Fentanyl is transdermal and can become airborne, so officers can accidentally ingest the drug just by touching it or breathing fentanyl dust. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency says fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, so ingesting even a small amount can be deadly.

There have been several incidents of accidental police overdoses nationally, including one in Connecticut last September where 11 members of a SWAT unit had to be treated after breathing in a fentanyl dust cloud during a raid.

O’Connor asked for funding to purchase drug packaging stations to help protect officers. Each kit costs about $3,000, he said.

In another matter, council will consider approving the transfer of a liquor license at the regular meeting April 10. The license will be transferred to a new restaurant owned by Manhattan Concepts at 4607 Library Road. The restaurant will feature fresh, locally sourced foods and a menu that will change seasonally.