Authorities in Broward County, Florida have made an arrest in connection with the overdoses that occurred Thursday at a vacation rental home in Wilton Manors, according to a news release from the Wilton Manors Police Department.
Fort Lauderdale firefighters responded to the home around 5 p.m. Thursday and assisted six male students, who were experiencing overdose symptoms and were taken to hospital. A woman was also hospitalized after feeling ill, police said.
A hazmat team tested the powdered material and found it was mixed with fentanyl, an opioid drug, according to the department.
The names of the patients were not released, although police said the students were from New York and vacationing in Fort Lauderdale over spring break.
“This incident is a stark reminder to everyone, especially those visiting on Spring Break, of the deadly effects of fentanyl,” Wilton Manors police said in the news release.
Beth Smith, spokesperson for the United States Military Academy at West Point, acknowledged to CNN that the students were cadets and said the academy was investigating.
Local authorities are investigating the overdose incident, police said.
“WMPD wants to warn spring breakers of the dangers of using illegal drugs and avoid mixing drugs with alcohol or other forms of drugs. Protect yourself from the dangers of fentanyl,” police said.
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