Matt Broom Identifies 25 Exposed in The Substance Incident

New Mexico State Police Chief Matt Broom said the substance linked to a Mountainair home response was a powdered opioid mixture that exposed 25 people. Three people died after the incident, including two found unresponsive at the home on Wednesday and a third who later died at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Mountainair Home Response

Authorities said four people were found unresponsive at the home in Mountainair, New Mexico. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and one of the survivors and one of the deceased were given Narcan.

Broom said preliminary findings tied the case to exposure to a powdered opioid substance inside the home. In his words: "Preliminary findings indicate this incident is tied to exposure to a powdered opioid substance within the home, and on-scene DEA laboratory analysis has confirmed the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl, also called P4 fentanyl."

DEA Lab Findings

On-scene DEA laboratory analysis found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl in powder form. Broom also described it this way: "It’s a more illicit form or version of fentanyl."

The finding identifies what first responders faced when they arrived at the home. Officials said first responders were among the 25 people exposed, and the response sent 20 people to the hospital before they were released.

Hospital Impact

Two people remained hospitalized after arriving in serious condition. Authorities identified the two people who died as Micah Rascon, 51, and Georgia Rascon, 49.

The numbers show the case reached far beyond the three deaths. For anyone tied to the response, the immediate impact was not just the home itself but the wider set of people exposed, treated, and in two cases still hospitalized after the encounter with the powder inside the Mountainair house.