Now, experts say, fentanyl, a cheap, synthetic opiate originally dreamed up to treat people with end-of-life cancer, is either trekked in across the U.S.’s southern border by American mules, where

"Some people they be fighting the process. For one, they being traumatized while they out here on Earth," he said. “We have struggle but we keep going. We keep going because we Penn North Strong.”

An unusually large number of overdoses sent crews searching alleys and homes for victims. Officials have not said what type of drug was involved.