Officials in Lancaster working to combat sudden rise in K2 and fentanyl overdoses

Authorities and first responders in the City of Lancaster have all hands on deck after a concerning uptick in overdose calls, according to Lancaster City Police.

Officials said that recently, there has been an increase in calls related to drug activity connected to people who have been overdosing downtown on K2 and fentanyl.

K2 is described as a "man-made synthetic cannabinoid created in a lab" that has "various unknown chemicals."

In a public statement, police reported that the effects of this "synthetic marijuana" vary from batch to batch and are "far more unpredictable and dangerous drug than natural cannabis."

At the moment, Lancaster City Police are working closely with first responders, fire crews, and EMS to address the issue but that the task is no easy feat:

These challenges are straining public resources among first responders which include police, fire, and EMS, and significantly reducing the health and safety of our public spaces in the downtown area.

The release stated that officers are working to reduce these concerns through "increased proactive enforcement and collaboration with community partners."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, Lancaster City Police say to go to findtreatment.gov or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to receive the proper resources to help seek recovery.