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Wasp spray leads to 3 deaths in West Virginia after being used as alternative meth

West Virginia state police are cautioning residents against using wasp spray as an alternative form of methamphetamine after three people purportedly overdosed.

Sgt. Charles Sutphin told WCHS that a number of people in Boone County are making "a synthetic type methamphetamine out of wasp spray." Law enforcement believe it led to three fatal overdoses last week.

"In my opinion, drugs are so bad around here," said resident Diana Ferguson. "It's so available to people, and then, all the time, trying things new that we wouldn't even think about."

Last Friday, stores in the area reported selling at least 30 cans of wasp spray, which, when used as a drug, allegedly causes unusual behavior, along with swelling and redness of the hands and feet.

"From what we're being told, if you use it, you know, you might use it once or twice and be fine, but the third time when your body hits that allergic reaction, it can kill you," Sutphin said.

State police are now working with poison control and local medical centers on the best way to treat the symptoms that come with improperly using wasp spray, according to WCHS. Authorities are also collaborating with local agencies to raise awareness of the dangers of using the pesticide.

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