Wood County is urging residents to take extra care after health officials recorded an increase in drug overdoses from Oct. 7 through Oct. 14, 2026.
The alert says drugs circulating locally — including counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine — may carry dangerous amounts of fentanyl or other substances, raising the risk of a fatal overdose. Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid, and officials note that a very small amount can kill and that it cannot be detected by sight, smell or taste.
Officials are also warning people not to take pills from friends, online sellers or any source other than a licensed pharmacy, because counterfeit medication can contain hidden substances.
To lower the risk of death, the alert urges people not to use alone, to keep naloxone — sold as Narcan — on hand and make sure people nearby know how to use it, and to use free testing strips available in Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids to check for fentanyl in stimulants and xylazine in opioids. People without someone nearby can call SafeSpot at 1-800-972-0590 for overdose prevention support.
Signs of an overdose include not responding to voice or touch, slow, shallow or stopped breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, blue, gray or pale lips and fingernails, and very small pupils. Anyone who sees those signs should call 911 right away, give naloxone if it is available, and seek medical help even if the person starts breathing again, because more than one dose may be needed.
Free testing strips and naloxone are available through community locations in the Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids areas, with a county resource map and help available through the Wood County Health Department and local recovery organizations.
