Poor drug lot spikes overdose in Philly area over weekend, officials say

More than 100 people were hospitalized in the Philadelphia area over the weekend because of a bad lot. According to health officials, hospitals in the Philadelphia area experienced a sudden spike in non-fatal overdoses between Friday and Saturday. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Tom Farley said the cluster was the largest in the world. He had seen for two years. "During a weekend, we could expect 20 to 25 people to come," says Dr. Farley. "So having 100 is much bigger than normal."

Farley says that it's not clear if the responsible substance was heroin, fentanyl or anything else. Health officials are still waiting for the results of the tests of the bags found in them. hands of arriving patients.

Montgomery County officials say the drug may be "Santa Muerte" "The Holy Death", a batch of heroin adulterated with an anticholinergic agent. Sold in the street under the name of "Perfect 10", the symptoms of the lot include agitation, combativeness, delirium, dilated pupils, convulsions and hot skin, red and reddened

Extremely combative and agitated when treated with the anti-opioid drug Narcan.

At least two Philadelphia EMS workers who responded to overdoses reported Friday were injured after being attacked by patients, officials said.

"This is an important lesson for everyone about the dangerousness of buying drugs on the street and using them," Dr. Farley said.

Despite the increase in overdoses, authorities claim that the batch did not cause peak drug-related deaths over the weekend.

The police and the health department are now warning people of the issue as they continue to work to confirm what is really the drug. They are waiting to finish their tests this week.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia