HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The 22News I-Team takes a look inside the fight against fentanyl in one western Massachusetts city. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to overdoses across the country. I t is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency. It makes drugs like heroin cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. "Heroin isn't heroin anymore, every heroin bag you get is fentanyl."Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan US overdose deaths far outpace other countries: Report The Holyoke Police Department is on the front line of the opioid epidemic. Every day, detectives are out on the streets searching for people who are suffering from addiction and are in danger of overdosing. "It shows up in literally every substance individuals use out here," explained Josue Rivera, who is a recovery coach with The Gandara Center. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that between January 2020 and December 2021, overdose deaths involving opioids rose 38%. "It's made in bathtubs" "You don't know where it's made," said Chief Keenan. "It's made in bathtubs. It's shipped in from foreign countries. It's not regulated. The fatalities are off the charts. It's a dangerous, toxic chemical." EMS personnel in Holyoke were called to 322 opioid-related incidents from January through September of last year, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The only cities in the state with a higher number of calls were Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Lowell and Fall River, which are all much larger than Holyoke. Part of the problem, according to Chief Keenan, is that heroin is being sold on the street for just a few dollars. Keenan says a bag of heroin costs $3 and leads to higher crime. "Fentanyl drives shoplifting. It drives prostitution, it drives homelessness," said Chief Keenan. "All the social ails you see in society can be attributed to fentanyl. Fentanyl is extremely inexpensive and it's extremely available." The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person's body size, tolerance and past usage. Forty-two percent of the pills they tested contained at least that much fentanyl. Detective Dorothy Beben searches the streets of Holyoke every day, looking for people before it's too late. She knows just how lethal fentanyl can be. "People like the out of sight, out of mind, but it's very dangerous," explained Beben. "They should never use alone. If an overdose happens, there's no one there to help them." 22News follow-up How a new approach is helping people overcome addiction in Holyoke 22News will have a look at the resources that are available in western Massachusetts for people who are suffering from addiction. You can watch that on Thursday, March 27th at 6 p.m. Local News Headlines Two arrested after gun shots reported near restricted area of Mt. Tom in Holyoke The impact of fentanyl crisis on one western Massachusetts city Springfield Police to conduct “park and walk” sweep in this neighborhood Two dogs returned after being stolen in Holyoke, three arrested WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less