December 10th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

An alarming new phase of the opioid crisis appears to be escalating, with more overdoses being reported in parts of the D.C. region tied to counterfeit painkillers that are laced with the extremely dangerous drug fentanyl. According to Prince William County police in Virginia, officers responded to three overdoses involving teenagers in the past week alone.

In the first incident, a 17-year-old boy in Manassas died on Saturday.

According to police, a 16-year-old boy in Manassas was hospitalized on Monday, and a 15-year-old boy in Woodbridge was hospitalized on Wednesday following an overdose.