On March 15, five female workers from a Cheesecake Factory in New Jersey overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine in a high-end Hackensack shopping mall parking lot, resulting in the death of 29-year-old Michelle Edoo three days later. The friends were unaware that the cocaine they were taking had been laced with the dangerous opioid fentanyl, leading to the tragic incident.
A colleague of the victims, who requested anonymity, said that drug use was rampant in the lower level parking lot, and it had become so depressing that he had started parking elsewhere. The incident has shaken him up, and he likened drug use to playing Russian Roulette.
The colleague stated that drug use on the garage’s lower level had spiraled out of control, and there were many versions of what had happened.
A bystander, Aaron Kim, 30, rushed to help after hearing about the five women lying on the ground in the parking lot. He found the group unresponsive and without a pulse and administered CPR to two victims while waiting for first responders. Kim praised an unidentified nurse practitioner who knew precisely what to do in such a situation.
This incident highlights the dangers of drug use and the need for increased awareness and preventative measures. The prevalence of fentanyl-laced drugs has resulted in a significant increase in overdoses, and it is essential to recognize the risks and take appropriate precautions.
The surviving workers have not been seen by the anonymous colleague since the incident, which has emphasized the tragic consequences of drug use and the importance of seeking help for those struggling with addiction.