Investigation continues into dangerous counterfeit Percocet

MACON — Bibb County Sheriff’s Office officials have released images of the bogus Percocet drugs being sold on the street in middle and south Georgia that have been linked to dozens of serious medical reactions and at least four deaths.

“During the investigation, it was reported that the pills that were described being purchased were yellow in color and an oval shape,” Lt. Randy Gonzalez with the Bibb SO’s public affairs office said Wednesday in a news release. “The counterfeit pills have the numbers ‘10/325’ on one side and the word ‘PERCOCET’ in all capital letters on the opposite side.”

The quality of the stamping is a tell-tale sign that the pill is not authentic.

“On the counterfeit pills, the word PERCOCET is not stamped as deep as the manufacturer typically does on their pills,” Gonzalez said. “Also, on the counterfeit pills, the imprint of the name is at an angle.”

Authorities were still trying to determine Wednesday what is in the pills.

“The content of the pills is not yet known at the present time but will be tested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation,” Gonzalez said.

Officials say any suspicious pills should be considered hazardous and should be reported to authorities.

Dr. Christopher Hendry, chief medical officer of Navicent Health, one of three hospitals in Georgia that is known to have received patients impacted by the pills, told CNN Tuesday that “a compound in the South that’s recently popped up” is “10,000 times more powerful than morphine,” and that normal doses of Narcan to counteract opioid overdoses are ineffective.

The patients, mostly brought in by ambulance, appeared sleepy, had slurred speech and had difficulty breathing, Hendry said. The symptoms led doctors to suspect opioid overdose, but he said toxicology results won’t be back for at least a couple of days.

In the Albany area, callers can report any information to Albany Area Crime Stoppers, (229) 436-8477. The report can be made anonymously.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at (478) 751-7500.