DEA Agent Says Fake Pills Containing Fentanyl Are Oklahoma's Biggest Drug Threat

The DEA said more than 93,000 people have died from drug overdoses in the last year, which is up by 20,000 from the year before. More than 1,000 of those people who died, were in Oklahoma.

They said the biggest issue is counterfeit pills that look like prescription pain killers, but are laced with fentanyl and are deadly.

The DEA said addictions and these pills are killing moms, dads, the rich, the poor, and many teenagers. Agents said getting the counterfeit pills off the streets isn't enough, but now, people who sell them are being charged with murder.

"You take that one pill off the street, that you think is something, and it's not, and it turns out to be laced with fentanyl, you're dead,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Scott with the Oklahoma DEA.

The DEA said counterfeit pills are killing people every single day in our communities.

"Literally you are playing Russian roulette when you take a pill off the street,” said Scott. “When you take a pill that is not prescribed by your doctor, not filled at a pharmacy, you are literally taking your life into your own hands."

DEA agents have taken 9.6 million fake pills off the streets across the U.S. in the last year, which is more than the previous two years combined. They said two out of every five pills, was laced with fentanyl.

"If you didn't get that from a prescription from your doctor, filled in a pharmacy, you are risking your life by taking that pill. We have got to make sure that as parents, that we are talking to our kids about the dangers of these counterfeit pills and talking to them about the dangers of abusing prescription pills,” said Scott.

The DEA said they are no longer looking at overdose deaths as just accidental, or suicide. They’re being investigated as a homicides.

"You may try to sell these pills on the side and make a few quick bucks, at what cost? You want to be serving the rest of your life in prison? For murder. For the death you caused. That's what we want them to think about,” said Scott.

National DEA Drug Take Day back is this Saturday all across the country.

You can take your unused and expired pills to several locations across Tulsa. For more information, click here.