Schenectady Police, leaders want to stop string of deadly drug overdoses

International Overdose Awareness Day was being observed on Thursday, and leaders in Schenectady are working to combat a recent increase in suspected fatal overdoses.

Their biggest challenge is people buying and using drugs laced with deadly substances, they said.

“You don’t know what you’re putting in your body and it could kill you.”

Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford

These drugs are being laced with substances like fentanyl and meth.

“These are all very bad drugs. Many drug dealers are passing off other drugs that were never as addictive, like cocaine, passing off what people will believe is cocaine, but is really fentanyl or xylazine,” Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said. “So it’s buyer beware for those that are buying drugs. You don’t know what you’re putting in your body and it could kill you.”

More than a dozen people have died from a drug overdose within the last two months.

The city will be handing out purple wristbands Thursday that say, “Courage, Community and Together.”

Purple represents drug overdose awareness.

Local leaders hope the wristbands will help eliminate the stigma around overdoses and drug addiction.