MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – Synthetic drug deaths are sometimes misrepresented as heroin overdoses, so federal authorities are keeping a close eye on both.
From 2014 to 2015 in Broward County, fentanyl deaths increased 49 percent -- from 53 to 79 cases. Heroin deaths increased 186 percent -- from 28 to 80. This year, there have already been at least 28 fentanyl deaths and authorities expect some 270.
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"Fentanyl is a very, very dangerous drug," Broward Chief Medical Examiner Craig Mallak said during a commission meeting earlier this month.
Even at the height of the flakka epidemic, fentanyl and heroin were killing more people here than flakka, Mallak said.
The spike was drastic in Miami Dade County, where fentanyl deaths went up more than 360 percent -- from 22 to 102 cases. Heroin deaths doubled -- from 42 to 85.
