Updated August 7th, 2025
Recent news reports from National Public Radio, ABC News, and others have been warning the public about a dangerous new drug mixture that has been linked to an increasing number of deadly overdoses: fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Although researchers and law enforcement officers have long known about the extreme dangers of fentanyl, it’s now becoming more of a concern as drug traffickers and dealers mix it with cocaine.
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Deaths Involving Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine are Increasing in States Around the U.S.
Opioid and stimulant drug mixtures are notoriously dangerous, but fentanyl can be 50 times stronger than heroin. Many drug users are now unknowingly ingesting it alongside cocaine, which significantly increases the risk of fatal overdose.
Data from the CDC reveals a disturbing national trend. By 2021, 78.6% of all cocaine-related overdose deaths in the U.S. also involved opioids like fentanyl. Between 2022 and 2023, cocaine-involved overdose deaths rose by 4.9%, despite a slight overall decline in total overdose deaths. These figures reflect the deadly fourth wave of the U.S. overdose crisis.
Connecticut
- The Connecticut Medical Examiner’s office reported a 420% increase in fatal overdoses involving both cocaine and fentanyl over a recent three-year span.
- As of 2023, over 85% of all overdose deaths in the state involve fentanyl, with many tied to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.
- Recent arrests in Hartford link drug trafficking operations directly to fentanyl-cocaine mixtures being distributed in the state.
Massachusetts
- State police reported triple the amount of fentanyl-laced cocaine seized in 2023 compared to 2016.
- According to the DEA, the percentage of cocaine samples testing positive for fentanyl in New Englandincreased from 3% in 2016 to over 11% in 2023.
Ohio
- In Butler County, cocaine-related deaths have more than doubled since 2018. The coroner’s office confirms that fentanyl is present in the majority of these cases.
- In Franklin County, overdose deaths reached record levels in 2023, with a sharp rise in both cocaine- and meth-related fatalities involving fentanyl.
- Cuyahoga County reported that estimated cocaine-involved overdose deaths jumped from 666 in 2016 to over 850 by 2023, and nearly all involved fentanyl.
- Hamilton County saw a 31% increase in overdose deaths in 2022, with fentanyl-cocaine mixtures cited as a driving factor.
- Statewide, cocaine-related deaths increased by 62%, with fentanyl involved in the overwhelming majority.
New York
- In Westchester and Rockland Counties, public health officials report a rising number of non-opioid users dying of fentanyl exposure due to adulterated cocaine.
- In New York City, the Department of Health found fentanyl in nearly 60% of cocaine overdose deaths by 2023.
- A recent federal case in Greenwich, CT also linked the overdose death of a New Yorker to a fentanyl-cocaine sale.
National Overview
- CDC data confirms that 35,000 deaths annually now involve a combination of fentanyl and stimulants—a 50-fold increase from 2010.
- This marks the “fourth wave” of the overdose crisis, characterized by co-use and contamination of drug supplies.
- The DEA warns that many users don’t know they’re ingesting fentanyl, as it’s increasingly found in cocaine, meth, counterfeit pills, and other street drugs.
Risk of Overdose for Cocaine Users and Others
Although illicit drug dealers and manufacturers have used fentanyl to cut other opioid drugs for years, mixing it with cocaine—a notorious party drug—could potentially put many more unsuspecting drug users at risk for fatal overdose.
Fentanyl-laced cocaine is a deadly drug mixture for anyone that uses it, but cocaine abusers are particularly vulnerable to the risk. Law enforcement officials speculate that dealers are adding fentanyl to cocaine because it is more cost-effective for them and it makes the drug more addictive. As a result, cocaine abusers will need to take more and more of the drug each day.
Unaware of the added danger, cocaine users are much more likely to overdose as they take increased amounts of the laced drug daily. Even just one dose of the drug combination could prove fatal.
Getting Help for Cocaine and Fentanyl Abuse
Cocaine and fentanyl abuse can easily overtake a person’s life and even lead to death, but it’s not too late to get help. Full recovery is possible with professional treatment. Just as with any addiction problem, medically-assisted drug detox is the safest and most effective first step in a comprehensive addiction treatment program.
The medical and clinical staff at Briarwood Detox Center are ready to help you begin your recovery. Unfortunately, fentanyl abuse in the U.S. is increasing and the risk for overdose continues to be high, but by enrolling in a medically assisted detox program, you can safely eliminate all drug use from your life and achieve a state of sobriety and stability.
Once you have completed your drug detox program, your treatment team at Briarwood will also help you prepare for entry into a rehab program that appropriately addresses your needs. Although detox is only the first step to achieving a life of sobriety, it is an essential part of the overall recovery process.
To learn more about our drug detox programs for fentanyl and cocaine, please call Briarwood Detox Center today. We’re happy to provide more information, verify your insurance benefits, and help you enroll if you choose to.
