Category: Awareness
September 21, 2026: Pill press bill passes House as owners of LFA Machines arrested
Read the original article on the Partnership for Safe Medicines website.
Three senior employees of a pill press company have been arrested as the U.S. House unanimously passes the Stop Pills That Kill Act.
Two principal managers and one former long-time employee at LFA Machines, a company selling pill presses and tableting machines, have been arrested. Federal investigators say years-long investigations have not only led to the seizure of the company’s machines at clandestine labs nationwide, but also allege the men sold products to consumers knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe they would be used to manufacture counterfeit pills. In August, an Arizona grand jury indicted LFA Machines and the three men on six counts that each carry a maximum penalty of four years in prison and fines.
This comes as the U.S. House unanimously passed the Stop Pills That Kill Act (H.R. 8005), legislation that is aimed at disrupting the use of these illicit pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills. The bill would require pill presses and key components to be serialized, strengthen penalties for removing identifiers or knowingly supplying equipment for illegal drug production, and direct the DEA to develop a strategy addressing counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other dangerous substances. The legislation comes amid continued pill press seizures nationwide, including 13 states identified in PSM’s latest report and 29 machines seized by the DEA during a recent enforcement initiative.
Continue reading the article on the Partnership for Safe Medinces website.
PSM pill press update, February – July 2026
Illicit pill presses are an engine for counterfeit medicine production, creating fake prescription pills with fentanyl or methamphetamine, which have harmed Americans for over a decade, but also fake blood thinners, substandard Viagra, and bootlegged anxiety medicine.
Fayetteville police urge community members to carry Narcan due to extreme opioid overdoses
The Fayetteville Police Department said they have seen an increase in drug overdoses from synthetic opioids in the past several months. Police are encouraging community members to carry Naloxone (Narcan). It is a nasal spray that will rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing.
Fayetteville police are urging community members to carry Narcan due to a large number of opioid overdoses in the area.
The Fayetteville Police Department said they have seen an increase in drug overdoses from synthetic opioids in the past several months. Police are encouraging community members to carry Naloxone (Narcan). It is a nasal spray that will rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing.
“Our immediate priority is preventing the additional loss of life. Synthetic opioids do not discriminate, and one exposure can be fatal,” said Fayetteville Police Department Major Shawn Strepay. “We ask everyone in our community to take this warning seriously and to call 911 immediately if an overdose is suspected.”
Police were called to a location on Saturday where three people were experiencing overdoses. Upon arrival, officers began lifesaving measures and called EMS. Two people died, and one person was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
People around Fayetteville agreed that carrying Narcan is a smart preventative measure while acknowledging the need for addiction resources.
“Even though Narcan is a very important preventative measure, I think there’s more things that could get to the root of the issue before that,” said Indie Luther, a Fayetteville resident.
“We urge friends and family members to have those difficult, but necessary, conversations with loved ones struggling with substance abuse. Warn them about this circulating danger and encourage them to seek help before it is too late,” Strepay said.
That message was echoed by another resident who works with Fayetteville Pride, which an organization supporting the city’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.
“Down here especially we have a lot of unhoused people,” said Krystal Maddox. “We do a lot of community activities and a lot of work in the community, so I know a lot of our members carry it.”
Where to find Naloxone (Narcan):
- Naloxone is available for free from the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey St.
- Local pharmacies will offer Nalaxone without a prescription.
- For more information on distribution, visit naloxonesave-nc.org
YCSO and N.C. Community Supervision Officers Conduct Joint Search
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Fentanyl Awareness & Safety
The Fayetteville Police Department is urging our community to stay informed about the dangers of fentanyl a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
A lethal dose of fentanyl can be as small as 2 milligrams—roughly the size of a few grains of salt.
Recorded overdoses in NC down 27% midway through 2026. Local departments warn of fentanyl spike
Read the original article and watch the video on the WRAL News website.
Data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows midway through 2026, North Carolina is seeing a 27% reduction of reported opioid overdoses across state emergency departments.
Between January and June, to include six months of DHHS data, there are 2,031 reported opioid overdoses in the state. That’s down by more than 700 overdoses compared to the same period of time last year.
Illicit opioids, which includes fentanyl, make up more than half of the emergency department visits in the state.
This comes six months after WRAL reported that North Carolina, as a state, saw another consecutive year of declining opioid and fentanyl overdose numbers. An analysis of state health data showed that opioid overdose hospitalizations had decreased by more than 20% in the last year, marking two consecutive years of declining emergency department visits in North Carolina. The same data source shows similar trends for fentanyl positive deaths, which decreased by 24% in the last year.
Even still, local police departments are issuing public safety notices about localized spikes in suspected fentanyl.
In Fayetteville, policer offers report an increase of overdoses believed to be caused by fentanyl in the local community.
“The increase has prompted concern that particularly potent or contaminated illegal drugs may currently be circulating in the Fayetteville area,” a spokesperson for the department said.
This rare spike comes as Cumberland County is experiencing a drastic reduction in overdoses reported to hospitals. Monthly DHHS data shows there are 33 reported cases so far this year, down from 95 over the same window of time last year.
Illicit opioids, which includes fentanyl, make up more than half of the emergency department visits in the state.
This comes six months after WRAL reported that North Carolina, as a state, saw another consecutive year of declining opioid and fentanyl overdose numbers. An analysis of state health data showed that opioid overdose hospitalizations had decreased by more than 20% in the last year, marking two consecutive years of declining emergency department visits in North Carolina. The same data source shows similar trends for fentanyl positive deaths, which decreased by 24% in the last year.
Even still, local police departments are issuing public safety notices about localized spikes in suspected fentanyl.
In Fayetteville, policer offers report an increase of overdoses believed to be caused by fentanyl in the local community.
“The increase has prompted concern that particularly potent or contaminated illegal drugs may currently be circulating in the Fayetteville area,” a spokesperson for the department said.
This rare spike comes as Cumberland County is experiencing a drastic reduction in overdoses reported to hospitals. Monthly DHHS data shows there are 33 reported cases so far this year, down from 95 over the same window of time last year.
By the numbers: Hospitalizations, deaths track down
Statewide, North Carolina recorded 4,960 emergency department visits related to opioid overdoses in 2025. That marks a 21% decrease in the last year, and a 48% decrease since 2023 when the state recorded a record number of 9,624.
In total, overdose emergency department visits decreased by 14% between 2024 and 2025. Last year’s 10,627 cases still mark a 43% reduction since 2023.
Total Overdose Emergency Department visits
WRAL analyzed data across the Raleigh area, including the North Carolina counties that surround the capital city. Eight counties did not offer county-level reporting. The year-over-year data revealed that rural counties are among those that have seen the largest gains in opioid hospitalization reduction from a per capita standpoint.
“Since the spike stream of the pandemic, we’re following national trends and exceeding national trends. Not only state but county-level data,” Dr. Kelly Crosbie says, Director of DHHS’ Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services
Percent change between 2024 and 2025
Craven County deputies charge Havelock man in New Bern woman’s overdose death
Read the original article on the ABC News12 website.
A Havelock man has been charged with felony death by distribution following an investigation into the fatal drug overdose of a New Bern woman, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said its Criminal Investigation Bureau charged Thomas John Fogle Jr., 38, of Derrick Circle, on July 30. Deputies said the charge is related to the overdose death of 32-year-old Amber Ryan of New Bern.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators determined Fogle sold illegal narcotics to Ryan. Deputies said Ryan’s autopsy report confirmed her cause of death was a drug overdose.
The sheriff’s office said Fogle was already in custody when he was charged with felony death by distribution.
At the time, Fogle was in custody on several other charges, including:
- Trafficking methamphetamine, two felony counts
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, two felony counts
- Selling a Schedule II controlled substance
- Delivering a Schedule II controlled substance
- Possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana
- Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Altering or removing a gun serial number
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Fogle is being held at the Craven County Confinement Facility under no bond.
Havelock Resident Facing Felony Death by Distribution Charges Following Craven County Investigation
Two charged after law enforcement finds fentanyl in search of vehicle
Read the original article on the WNCT9 On Your Side website.
WILLIAMSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — Two people were charged after a traffic stop near the intersection of Technology Blvd. and U.S. Highway 64 Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Law enforcement officers said they smelled an odor of marijuana and saw evidence in plain view of controlled substances.
Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office responded and searched the vehicle. The search found 37 grams of fentanyl, digital scales and about $700.
Donta Antwan Valentine, 41, of Windsor, was charged with:
- Trafficking opium by transportation
- Trafficking opium by possession
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance
- Substances within 1,000 feet of a school
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Valentine was jailed without bond for 48 hours.
Tineshia Latrice Brown, 34, of Lewiston-Woodville, was charged with:
- Trafficking opium by transportation
- Trafficking opium by possession
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
- Possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Brown was also jailed without bond for 48 hours.