Drugs stolen from Starbuck pharmacy linked to overdose

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says the burglary of a pharmacy in West Central Minnesota last week has put very potent prescription drugs on the street and those stolen drugs have already been linked to one overdose.

Samuelson's Drug Store in Starbuck, Minn. was burglarized on September 16. Thieves got away with around 1,800 prescription pills, as well as several pain patches and oral solutions, according to the BCA.

Two days later, Morris Police were called to the Stevens County Medical Center where a man had a possible overdose from fentanyl.

The Morris and Starbuck police departments, along with the BCA, connected the fentanyl patches used by the man to the Starbuck pharmacy burglary.

Fentanyl patches deliver a strong, prescription opioid medication through the skin and are used to control chronic pain, according to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a company that makes them. The BCA warns that the patches also may cause severe injury or death.

On Monday, a man was arrested in Stevens County for selling prescription pills, which police believe were stolen in the drug store burglary.

The Morris and Starbuck police departments are asking anyone with information on people selling prescription pills, pain patches or oral solutions to contact police immediately.