The Manteca Police Department is investigating the death of 20-year-old man that may have been the result of a combination of drugs and alcohol.
According to Sgt. Jodie Estarziau, the man was found March 25 along South Union Road in Manteca. Manteca Police did not find any drugs at the scene, so they still don't know if the man's death was from fentanyl pills disguised as Norco painkillers.
Since March 23, Street drugs spiked with a powerful painkiller are responsible for at least eight reported deaths in Sacramento County, and one in Yolo County.
Fentanyl is considered 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin, and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Authorities still aren't sure how the pills are being disguised as Norco painkillers
Fentanyl overdoses are suspected in at least two other cases in Manteca, Sgt. Estarziau said. On Friday, Manteca Police responded to an overdose at a hotel in the 1700 block of East Yosemite Avenue. The woman was found without a pulse, but was taken to the hospital and survived.
In San Joaquin County, there have been 18 drug-related overdoses, but health officials don't know what drug caused people to overdose.
Sgt. Estarziau said the cause of death of the 20-year-old man in Manteca is still pending a toxicology report.
