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Officials say a mixture of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamines may have killed one person before affecting first responders who were called to a mobile home near Silver City.

Deputies and EMS arrived about 5:30 p.m. June 1 at the Silver Star Mobile Home Park for a reported overdose. One arriving paramedic collapsed and others became ill after being exposed to a 鈥減ossible airborne contaminant.鈥�

The person who was reportedly overdosing died at the scene and the official cause of death has not been confirmed.

A report from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that the mobile home contained 鈥渟everal methamphetamine-related degradation products,鈥� according to Grant County Sheriff Raul Villanueva.

"The majority of it was powder form,鈥� Villanueva said. 鈥淚t was actually on a table that got tipped over when they were trying to work on the individual. I know that the fentanyl was in powder form but I don鈥檛 know the exacts on the meth and the cocaine, but it was most likely powder as well.鈥�

Villanueva said that deputies and EMS personnel were exposed after the table tipped over and several became ill, with symptoms such as headaches and overall discomfort.

The deputies who were exposed are doing well and have since returned to work, he said.

Villanueva said the recent rise in toxic drug exposures has him concerned for both the community and his staff.

Since 1990, the rate of fatal drug overdoses in New Mexico has more than tripled. Grant County sees an average of 39.4 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people, according to the website.

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in 2023, approximately 69% of all overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, while overdose deaths involving multiple drugs have also increased.

Similar data from the state Department of Health shows that, of the overdoses that occurred in 2022, 87% involved illicitly manufactured fentanyl. 

Villanueva said that, in the Grant County area, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an epidemic.鈥�

鈥淲hat I think is happening is that it鈥檚 just being distributed everywhere and we鈥檙e trying to control it, but drug cases are always challenging,鈥� he said.

Since the exposure, the Grant County Sheriff鈥檚 Office has implemented a precautionary protocol when responding to calls involving drugs or overdoses.

All deputies will be required to carry Narcan 鈥� a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose 鈥� with them, as well as protective equipment to suit up during an emergency.

Additionally, at least two deputies must be sent when responding to those kinds of situations and, depending on the circumstances, law enforcement will not enter a home until they have protective gear on. 

Villanueva said he is urging the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement so they can investigate.

鈥淲e do need the public鈥檚 help in regards to this,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are the eyes and ears for us out there. If they see a white powdery substance, or any substance that doesn鈥檛 look normal, be cautious and stay away and report it.鈥�

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.