9 overdoses reported in St. Cloud metro within 24 hours, 1 fatal

The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force says one person has died and eight others are being treated following a string of overdoses in the St. Cloud metro area.

The task force on Friday morning said the overdoses happened within the past 24 hours.

According to the task force, the cases are believed to be caused by narcotics being mixed with fentanyl, which causes depression of the central nervous system and respiratory function and can be fatal.

Authorities say fentanyl is about 80 times as potent as morphine, and hundreds of times more potent than heroin.

The drug has been mixed with other drugs in either powder or pill form.

No other details were immediately provided but authorities said they will send out more details when they become available.

Anyone with information about the overdose cases is asked to call the task force at 320-345-4238.