Arizona
Fentanyl is killing children in Arizona at an alarming rate
Fentanyl-related child deaths on the rise in Arizona
In an alarming new trend in Arizona, children are dying and an increasing rate because of Fentanyl overdoses. FOX 10’s Nicole Krasean has the story.
PHOENIX – A tragic trend is on the rise in Arizona. Children are dying from exposure to fentanyl.
“It is heartbreaking,” said Kenneth McKinley, Director of Childhelp Arizona.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety recorded 34 child deaths due to fentanyl last year. Eight of those children were under the age of five.
“Almost on a weekly basis, I’ll get a call-out that says there’s a three-year-old, a two-year-old, a one-year-old at the emergency room at Phoenix Children’s and they’re administering Narcan,” McKinley said.
Phoenix Police say the rising use of fentanyl is due in part to its low cost.
“Heroin, methamphetamines, they were higher costs. We’re seeing these pills as cheap as 50 cents. So, again, they’re very accessible, they’re very plentiful. Even the residue itself can be fatal,” said sargent Phil Krynsky of Phoenix Police.
“This can be found in locations where kids are supposed to frequent”
Not all cases of exposure come from a household where drug use is happening.
“This can be found in locations where kids are supposed to frequent: parks, or just walking down the street with their parents, sitting at a bus stop. Sometimes individuals that see law enforcement and they ditch whatever drugs that they have, and again, they leave it behind because it’s not that high of a cost and it could be in the grasp of kids,” Krynsky said.
Once the powerful drug is in that grasp, the aftermath of any exposure sticks with families.
Family history of drug use is a contributing factor
“The families – I think – deal with a lot of blame and guilt and shame and that sort of thing and we know that there’s a connection to – even outside of drug exposure – there’s a connection between drug use, family history of drug use, and child abuse,” McKinley added.
Fighting the epidemic includes educating the public and working to break the cycle of drug use in families in every community.
“Getting it out, letting us know, educating our children, and again getting people off the use of these drugs or at least letting them know that one pill that you take or you try could be your last one,” Krynsky says.
Officials encourage people to keep Narcan handy
In Arizona, any licensed pharmacist can distribute Narcan over the counter and it’s widely available through various organizations and agencies.
Officials encourage anyone who knows a drug user to keep Narcan handy in case of an accidental overdose.
Arizona
Arizona man convicted for role in bringing cocaine to Cincinnati, other US locations for over 5 years
CINCINNATI — An Arizona man has been found guilty of supplying dozens of kilograms of cocaine to multiple U.S. locations, including Cincinnati, bi-weekly for more than five years.
Tucson resident Cesar Cervantes, 52, was convicted of participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies in a jury trial after the government seized more than 160 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl and $1.4 million in cash from him.
According to court documents, Cervantes would use a network to deliver drugs that originated in Mexico to multiple locations across the country, including designated couriers in Cincinnati, between at least July 2018 and August 2023. Officials said he would supply between 25 and 50 kilograms biweekly to his coconspirators.
Cervantes would then use money launderers to funnel money back to Mexico. In one instance, court documents said he had coconspirators deliver around $300,000 to two separate money launderers — one based in China and another in Colombia.
The jury found Cervantes guilty on all counts for his role in the conspiracies following a trial before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland in the Southern District of Ohio. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Investigators are analyzing two ransom notes sent after Nancy Guthrie vanished, as a retired FBI agent questions whether the latest message is real. A new development in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance centers on two ransom notes sent to her family after she vanished. Investigators believe the messages may have come from the same person or group, possibly from the same computer IP address. The first note demanded billions in bitcoin, while the second claimed Guthrie had died and offered an apology. Retired FBI agent John Iannarelli says he is skeptical of the second note and questions why the sender has not provided credible information about her location. The case remains active as detectives continue following any reliable leads.
CAMP VERDE, AZ (AZFamily) — An Arizona wildlife park is asking visitors to follow its rules after a visitor discarded a lit cigarette in the park, sparking a fire.
Park officials said Saturday a visitor ignored the no-smoking policy and threw a lit cigarette on the ground near the Tiger Splash Arena, causing the fire.
“If you are not willing to respect our policies, we understand that our park may not be the right destination for you,” Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary said in a social media post.
Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District firefighters put out the fire before it could spread or threaten any animals, park officials said.
“Every policy we have in place exists for a reason, even if it may seem inconvenient to some visitors,” park officials said. “The outcome could have been devastating for the animals. We respectfully ask all visitors to follow the rules that are in place for everyone’s safety.”
Park officials said the safety of the animals, guests and staff is the highest priority.
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