NEWTON, Ohio (WXIX) - Health officials are worried about overdoses increasing due to deadly drug combinations being used.

In a public health alert issued Wednesday, the Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response announced that "ongoing surveillance of daily overdose incidents" since Feb. 9 has revealed "abnormal changes in overdose-related activity."

The Hamilton County Coroner's Office has reported seven suspected overdose deaths in the last three days.

Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan spoke with FOX19 NOW about what might be causing the uptick in overdose deaths this week.

Chief Synan explained that multiple deaths in a row could imply that a new, dangerous drug combination of fentanyl, carfentanil, Xylazine, and medetomidine could be contributing to the deaths.

Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to Chief Synan.

"In 2016, 2017, it caused a tremendous amount of damage," he said. "We didn't know what it was. We couldn't predict supply."

FOX19 NOW reported earlier this week about the animal tranquilizer Xylazine and how it has infiltrated the street fentanyl supply.

Now, another dangerous substance is being added to the supply: medetomidine.

Medetomidine is a powerful sedative that can "render people unconscious," Chief Synan said.

"If someone is unconscious under another sedative, it increases the dangers of overdose and death, and that is our concern," he shared.

Both Xylazine and medetomidine are resistant to Narcan, making them a higher risk for overdose, Chief Synan explained.

The Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response advises the community to keep these things in mind: