Authorities and harm reduction advocates in Birmingham are raising alarms about potentially dangerous batches of methamphetamine. There have been reports of several fatalities and hospitalizations over the past week.

According to posts from the Recovery Resource Center (RRC) on Facebook, individuals in downtown Birmingham displayed severe and unusual symptoms after using meth. These symptoms included chills, body aches, violent vomiting, and diarrhea, escalating quickly to life-threatening situations. The RRC noted that these cases do not align with typical fentanyl overdoses and that standard fentanyl test strips, often used to identify contamination in opioids, were ineffective in these instances.

There are ongoing investigations by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office into five suspected overdose cases that occurred from Saturday to Tuesday. Although the coroner confirmed the investigation, they stated that the number of cases does not show an unusual increase compared to historical patterns. Preliminary autopsy results have yet to confirm or rule out contamination; full toxicology reports may take four to six weeks.

Authorities believe this particular batch of meth is brown and rock-like in appearance and is primarily used by injection. The RRC has advised individuals to avoid meth that fits this description and suggested that those who choose to inject should not do so alone.

Furthermore, reports indicate that methamphetamine remains a significant contributor to drug-related deaths across the country, with tens of thousands of fatalities attributed to meth use each year. The situation in Birmingham underscores the risks associated with contaminated street drugs and the difficulties public health officials encounter in swiftly addressing such threats.