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City of Cordova PO Box 1210 • 601 First St • Cordova, Alaska 99574 • (907) 424-6200 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2025
Dangerous Opioids Reported in Cordova
Testing Kits Available
Cordova, Alaska – The City of Cordova and Cordova Community Medical Center, as well as the Native Village of Eyak and Ilanka Community Health Center, are jointly warning Cordovans that they have received reports of increased usage of the opioid street drug fentanyl and street drugs containing fentanyl in Cordova. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and significantly increases the risk of death from accidental overdose, even from a single pill/dose.
Fentanyl test strips and Narcan are available free of charge at both Cordova Community Medical Center and Ilanka Health Center. Individuals will be trained upon pickup in how to administer Narcan as well as how to use test strips to test opioids for the presence of Fentanyl. Narcan is a medication which can reverse the effects of an overdose from fentanyl, heroin, or other opioids. Anybody who uses prescription or non- prescription opioids, or knows someone who does, is strongly encouraged to keep Narcan with them at all times. Individuals should not use any non-prescribed drugs, such as opioids. If individuals do use, they should avoid using non-prescription opioids alone or at least inform someone that they will be using. The strength of every new batch of heroin, fentanyl, or opioid containing street drugs is unknown, and individuals who choose to use these drugs should consider reducing their use amount to determine the strength to help prevent accidental overdose.
Approximately 150 people died each day in the US from opioid overdose in 2024. Signs of opioid overdose include pinpoint pupils; not being responsive to sound or pain; breathing that has slowed or stopped; blue lips or fingertips; and gurgling sounds. It is difficult to know who is or is not using illicit opioids. It is important that, as a community, we destigmatize the use of these drugs, so people are not afraid to seek the help and resources they need. Please call 911 if you or a loved one is experiencing an emergency related to a drug overdose. Our First Responders are here for our entire community.
Both Cordova Community Medical Center Primary Care Clinic 907-424-8200 and Ilanka Community Health Center 907-424-3622 offer medications and/or counseling programs to assist with addiction treatment. New regulations have reduced barriers to accessing medications used to support people on their recovery journey. Please call today to enquire about options available to support you or your loved one.
Look out for each other. Care for each other. If you or someone close to you uses non-prescription opioids, please take advantage of available community resources.
If you have information regarding illegal drug activity in Cordova, please share it with the Cordova Police Department (907) 424-6100 and the Mat-Su Drug Narcotics Enforcement Team, whose investigations include the Cordova area. Their tip line is (907) 373-0705.