5 Workers OD On Suspected Fentanyl At Bergen County Mall: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Five Bergen County mall workers suffered what appears to have been a fentanyl overdose Wednesday night, officials said. All but one were hospitalized.

The five women, ages 29 through 41, were revived with naloxone and CPR on a lower level parking garage at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack about 5:30 p.m., according to police.

Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse called the event tragic and said his office continued to work alongside law enforcement.

“It is truly heartbreaking to see the terrible toll taken by these illicit and dangerous substances,” Labrosse said. “We will continue to offer any necessary support to the emergency responders and the rest of the community as the situation continues to unfold.”

Fentanyl is responsible for an increasing number of drug-related deaths across the U.S., police warned.

It is often mixed with other street drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, to strengthen the effect; however, users, police said, are often "unprepared" for the intensity and succumb to the powerful effect.

Police Captain Michael Antista promised Hackensack residents to mount an investigation to track down the drugs.

“We are already in the process of thoroughly investigating this matter to find the source of this dangerous substance," Antista said. "[We] will do everything within our power to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”