King County Deputies Warn Residents Of Fake Oxycontin Tablets

KING COUNTY, WA—The King County Sheriff's Office continues to warn the community about the dangers of counterfeit, blue M30 pills circulating on the street. They are designed to appear to be oxycontin, or oxycodone, but in reality often contain deadly amounts of the synthetic painkiller fentanyl, deputies said.

On Sept. 6, Muckleshoot deputies responded to a drug overdose in the 38400 block of 172 Avenue SE.

After arriving on scene, deputies said a friend of the patient attempted CPR. Deputies were told by the friend that the patient had come over to smoke marijuana and shortly after arriving had passed out.

Officers said the patient was not seen consuming any substances but the friend assumed he was overdosing. Based on his symptoms, deputies said the patient's friend had already administered a 4MG dose of NARCAN prior to the deputy’s arrival. But the patient had not responded to treatment after several minutes.

A deputy then administered another 4MG dose of NARCAN. According to deputies, slowly the patient started to regain consciousness. Fire and EMS crews arrived and took over life-saving measures.

Deputies said one of the medics found a clear baggie with black markings containing some pills in one of the patient's pockets. Upon examination, deputies said there were 23 blue tablets with “M” markings on one side and the marking of “30” with a score underneath the other side.

"These appear to be the type of pills we have warned the community about and this patient is very lucky," the sheriff's office said.

Because of the patient’s state, deputies said they were unable to find out where the pills came from. The patient was transported to a local hospital and the pills were taken in to evidence.

In Oct. 2019, two Sammamish teens and several others in King County died by ingesting what they thought were legitimate oxycodone tablets, the King County Sheriff's Office reported.

"Don't take any pill you don't get directly from a doctor. Pills sold on the street are fakes, and almost always mixed with fentanyl. Two small grains of it can kill you," the sheriff's office warned.