TERRE HAUTE, Ind – Terre Haute Police are warning of a new synthetic opioid that is believed to be entering our area.

It has reportedly killed several people in the southwest and now the drug appears to be showing up in our area.

Dr. Christian Shaw of Western Indiana Recovery Services which is an opioid treatment facility  at Hamilton Center, says one recent overdose was likely caused by pills called “blues”.

These pills are dangerous because they are designed to look like oxycodone pills that many have bought from illegal sources, but are laced with fentanyl which is 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Officials say that these blue pills may look like oxycodone or what is known as “Oxy30’s” but are more dangerous and could prove to be fatal.