Creator of Dilbert talks about stepson's apparent fentanyl death
LIVERMORE, Calif. (KTVU) - Creator of Dilbert Scott Adams of Pleasanton posted a video on Periscope Monday warning of the dangers of fentanyl and Xanax following his stepson's death.
According to Livermore Police, Justin William Miles, 18 of Livermore, was pronounced dead Sunday morning.
In an emotional video on Periscope Adams talked about his stepson's death saying, "Yesterday, I got a call from my ex-wife who told me that my stepson - the little boy who I raised from the age of 2 was dead. He died last night or maybe early in the morning yesterday, we're not sure, in his bed from what appears to be a fentanyl overdose."
The coroner found a fentanyl patch on Miles' arm. Adams explains a fentanyl patch is the size of a postage stamp and is very popular among addicts because it feeds a continuous flow of fentanyl.
Adams isn't sure if the fentanyl patch is what killed his son, or if Xanax played a role. He learned Miles was trying to "score" Xanax, which is mostly counterfeit on the streets.
He explains counterfeit Xanax is often cut with fentanyl. Adams believes Miles may have had a double dose of fentanyl.
"We weren't surprised because it had been a long battle with addiction - since he was 14. He had a very bad head injury when he was 14 from a bike accident and his behavior changed after the accident. He sort of lost his ability to make good decisions. I'm not sure he ever made great decisions, but he lost his impulse control. He lost his fear," said Adams.
Adams says although he knew his stepson had a problem there wasn't much he could do since Miles didn't want help. "He never wanted to get better - from the time he started doing drugs he wanted to do more drugs. And that's all he wanted," he said.
Adams says due to California State law he couldn't get Miles committed at a rehab facility, because Miles was legally allowed to walk out if he didn't want to stay. "I got to watch my dead, blue, bloated son taken out on a stretcher in front of his mother and biological father and because the law in California, there was nothing we could do," he said.
Livermore Police said another teen died earlier this week in an apparent fentanyl overdose and they are investigating links between the two cases.
Oceana Breeze Muth, 16, of Livermore was pronounced dead Monday.
The Livermore Police Department posted on its Facebook page warning of the national epidemic throughout the country of depressants such as Xanax being infused with fentanyl and sold on the street to unsuspecting users.
"Fentanyl is a very powerful opioid and has led to many deaths in the United States. Fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids are being mixed with heroin, pressed into counterfeit tablets to look like commonly misused prescription opioids or sedatives, and being mixed with other illicit drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine," according to the Facebook post.
Livermore Police say the unpredictability in illegal drug products is increasing the risk of fatal overdose.
The official causes of the teens' deaths have not been released.
Anyone with information on the two deaths is asked to call the Livermore Police Department at 925-371-4777.