(Annapolis)- A new report says cocaine related deaths in Maryland have spiked. The report done by the Opioid Operational Command Center says deaths from heroin and prescription painkillers both dropped but cocaine-related deaths rose to 89 percent, from dealers mixing in fentanyl. The synthetic opioid is 50 times more powerful than heroin. The report also shows that opioid-related deaths increased by eight percent in 2017 compared to 70 percent in 2016. Maryland is expected to spend close to 700 million dollars this fiscal year on opioid related initiatives.
