New Jersey: 5 Women Allegedly Overdose on Fentanyl At a Shopping Mall

Authorities in New Jersey state that on Wednesday, five female mall employees overdosed on fentanyl and were found unconscious by the police.

It was reported that several persons had overdosed on drugs at the Shops at Riverside on Wednesday night, prompting a response from the Hackensack Police Department, the fire department, and emergency medical services.

While waiting for emergency personnel, good Samaritans performed CPR and employed other life-saving measures on the victims. When the authorities finally arrived, they administered naloxone.

“They did what they were taught to do and they saved a life, along with these civilians that were on scene,” Capt. Mike Antista of the Hackensack Police Department said.

“This is not a random incident in the mall. The stores within the mall are safe, and there is no danger to the public,” Antista said.

At least four of the women were sent to Hackensack University Medical Center. Officials said one victim declined medical attention.

It is thought that the women did not realise they were taking medications tainted with fentanyl.

“We’re seeing this all over the country. We talk about this as overdoses, but it’s more about poisoning. A lot of the folks that are victims of this don’t know what they’re taking,” police director Ray Guidetti said.

A resident has reported hearing rumours of this kind of drug use happening within the mall.

“We’re seeing this all over the country. We talk about this as overdoses, but it’s more about poisoning. A lot of the folks that are victims of this don’t know what they’re taking,” police director Ray Guidetti said.

The evidence obtained at the crime scene is being examined in a lab.