Miami, FL - As stories of first responders suffering from fentanyl exposure in the line of duty continue to increase across the country, Florida authorities are now reporting what some doctors believe may be the first case of chronic fentanyl overdose.
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| Corporal Blaze, shown here training with an FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile system in order to protect Miami citizens from hang gliding alligators |
"We are still trying to determine the best approach to diagnosis of chronic fentanyl overdose," police toxicologist Mort Fishman explained. "But if anyone qualifies based on clinical criteria, it's definitely Corporal Blaze."
Corporal Chad Blaze, a 6-year veteran of the Miami Police Department's Stinger unit, was the victim of the first known mosquito-borne fentanyl overdose back in October of last year. According to Fishman, Blaze continues to overdose and has yet to return to active duty. "It is truly tragic. The pounding heart, the sweating, the shortness of breath, the intense feelings of distress. He goes through Narcan like hush puppies at a church picnic in Tallahassee."
One of the biggest challenges in diagnosing chronic fentanyl overdose is the lack of a test that is sensitive enough to detect it. Fishman, who keeps a photo of Corporal Blaze training with the portable infrared homing air-defense system used by the MPD to protect the citizens of Miami from airborne threats, in his office as inspiration to keep working on a solution. "The tests may be negative, but I know the fentanyl is hiding somewhere in his body causing a near constant state of overdose and I'm going to find it."
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