Deputies in Ky. county seize enough fentanyl over 5 years to kill 2 million people

RICHMOND, Ky. (WKYT) - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is sending out the alarm about the deadly consequences of illegal drug use.

According to the sheriff’s office, within five years, they have seized enough fentanyl that would be enough to kill around 2 million people.

Those drugs are off the streets, but other problems remain. While law enforcement wages its war on drugs, others are working to help addicts break the horrible habit.

There’s a place in Lexington that offers hope, in fact some there are called ‘hope dealers.”

“That’s the thing that impacts me the most. Because I have lost friends to fentanyl overdoses, they were unaware they were even doing fentanyl,” said Gary Biggers, who says he was once addicted and is now helping people at the Voice of Hope Recovery Center.

Tony Terry is the chief deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and says fentanyl seizures with local agencies and task forces are very alarming.

“2.2 pounds is a kilogram. That’s enough to kill 500,000 people,” said Terry.

Madison County deputies seized nearly eight pounds over the past five years. Terry says that’s enough to theoretically kill more than 2 million people.

“It’s so easy to access. And so many ways to use it. It’s mixed with a lot of the pills,” said Terry.

“They may have been in college and partying. Their friends are doing it. I don’t think people want to do dangerous drugs like fentanyl. It kind of progresses over time,” said Biggers.

Sheriff’s deputies then see the dangerous impacts, from traffic stops to within homes. It’s all over the community.

“The drug users don’t know, sometimes, that they are getting that. That is the unfortunate part. They put that into their body, they don’t survive,” said Terry.

If they do, people at Voice of Hope say they have a plan to help them.

“We as a community need to get better to help people get in recovery. And help people realize the dangers of fentanyl,” said Biggers.

The best advice is to avoid illegal drugs altogether.

Madison County deputy sheriffs say a lethal dose of fentanyl is often the size of a pencil lead.

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