UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The Oneida County Overdose Response Team has issued another spike alert on Thursday, August 17, its second alert in three days.

The first alert was issued on Monday, August 14 after nine overdoses occurred over the previous weekend. Seven of those happened in the city of Utica. For this spike alert, five overdoses occurred between Wednesday, August 16 and the morning of August 17, all in the City of Utica.

According to the Overdose Response Team, the overdoses involved heroin and synthetic marijuana. It is unknown if fentanyl was present in any of the incidents.

Naxolone was administered in four of the five overdoses by bystanders and first responders.

The Overdose Response Team reminds individuals using all drugs to take harm reduction precautions to avoid overdoses and fatalities. This includes carrying naloxone, fentanyl test strips and never using alone. If users need further help, they are encouraged to access the Never Use Alone Hotline at 1-800-484-3731.

The team also encouraged people seeking treatment and recovery services to access those programs by dialing 211. The team also reminded users that Narcan is available by mail through the Oneida County Health Department by visiting the Oneida County Opioid Task Force website at www.ocopioidtaskforce.org.

Free, anonymous, 24/7 access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other wellness supplies are also available at the Public Health kiosk at the Giotto Center on Oswego Street in Utica.