OWEGO, N.Y. (WHCU) – Tioga County leaders are warning residents about a deadly spike in drug overdoses.

The Tioga County Public Health Department says there was a distinct bump in overdoses from April 28, 2023, to April 30, 2023. Two of the documented overdoses were fatal and coincided with other deaths in the region. It’s unknown if the overdoses are related, but there is a ‘possibility of a substance laced with a potent opioid in our area.’

Health officials recommend keeping Narcan, also known as Naloxone, on-hand. They say the geographic size of Tioga County means first-responders may not make it to emergency calls in time to reverse an overdose. Narcan is available for free in Owego at CASA-Trinity, the Tioga County Public Health building, and the Tioga County Mental Hygiene building.