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    Monday, April 29, 2024

    New Haven police confirm synthetic cannabinoids responsible for overdoses

    Samples of the drugs that swept through the New Haven green last week, leading to more than 100 overdoses, tested positive for the synthetic cannabinoid Fubinaca, New Haven police said Monday. 

    New Haven police said the samples had been sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s testing facility after the rash of overdoses Tuesday through Friday.

    City police have charged two men, John Arthur Parker and Felix Melendez, with drug possession in their probe into the overdoses.

    New Haven Police Chief Anthony Campbell said there needs to be further investigation to connect the men to the K2 distributed, but each was found in possession of the drug.

    One of the two men is believed to have been giving the drug away for free to build up his client list, but Campbell would not say which one.

    Federal authorities have charged a third man, but his name was not immediately released.

    The police investigation continues Monday, but no other arrests have been announced.

    Initially, officials had cautioned that the drugs were laced with fentanyl, but it is unclear if any of the samples tested positive for the powerful opioid.

    New Haven police also said Monday that a total of 47 individuals overdosed, showing that some were taken to the hospital, only to return and overdose again. No deaths were reported.

    Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, along with city, state and federal officials, was hosting Jim Carroll, who President Donald Trump nominated to serve as the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. They intend to discuss substance abuse and addiction in the meeting in New Haven, Malloy’s office said.

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