The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team became aware of a near fatal overdose on Friday, January 21st, regarding a local woman who was subsequently hospitalized for several days after the incident.
The suspected drug involved was fentanyl, and investigation led authorities to 52 year old Brian Dee Forbes, of Medford. On January 28th, Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Forbes’ residence where he was found in possession of just under 70 grams of fentanyl, a small amount of heroin, 30 pounds of marijuana, and a firearm.
Forbes, who is a convicted felon, was arrested and now faces numerous charges, including Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to authorities, Fentanyl, typically seen in the pill form, is now predominately in powder form as in this case, and has become the illicit drug of choice in the Rogue Valley, essentially replacing heroin. Fentanyl has been responsible for a significant increase in overdoses, many of which have been fatal. In 2020, Medford Police deployed Naloxone (Narcan) a total of 30 times, which increased to 76 times in 2021, and 8 doses have already been deployed this year.
