More than two weeks after a fentanyl spill exposed police to the drug in Duluth, the GBI issued a warning label Friday that the packaging of potent synthetic opioids is unsafe.
“As a safety measure, the GBI Crime Laboratory will not ship any evidence package containing any type of fentanyl or other potent synthetic opioid,” the GBI said in a statement.
In the Duluth incident, the police officers were transporting fentanyl from a GBI lab June 28.
No officers were injured in the incident.
But it has triggered the added safety requirements sent to the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles confirmed.
The restriction does not apply to evidence containing heroin or other types of drugs.
But of the fake drugs, the GBI recommends “minimal handling.”
The agency further recommends people use gloves, safety glasses and respiratory protection if handling synthetic opioids.
Any package containing synthetic opioids will be returned to the submitting agency at the GBI Crime Laboratory, the agency said.
Although packages will be marked with warning labels, the color of the warning label may vary, according to the GBI.
There has been at least four deaths and 30 people were hospitalized in the Macon area and in Albany after taking pills that look like the prescription drug Percocet.
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The counterfeit pills have the numbers 10/325 on one side and the word PERCOCET in all capital letters on the opposite side, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. But the word “PERCOCET” isn’t stamped as deep as the real manufacturer and it’s at an angle, investigators said.
In Bibb County, 11 overdose cases have been reported, resulting in two deaths, Coroner Leon Jones said June 7.
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