Kenneth C. Crowe II is reporting for the Times Union three people in Rensselaer County have suffered fatal drug overdoses from fentanyl-laced cocaine and heroin this week, bringing the number of fatal overdoses this year to 48. Officials said August 13, the three recent fatalities were among eight overdoses during a two-day period. The deaths occurred in East Greenbush, Sand Lake and Troy, causing the county to issue a public health warning. Two people died from overdoses two weeks ago in the town of Bethlehem’s Delmar neighborhood. Local law enforcement said at the time it was believed that fentanyl-laced cocaine was a factor in those deaths. “The number of overdoses in such a short time this week is an obvious concern, and the reason we are issuing this warning. We want residents to be aware there is reason to be concerned," said Rensselaer County Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas. There have been concentrated overdose outbreaks throughout the Capital Region since the coronavirus pandemic led to a reduction or shutdown of in-person services starting in mid-March. In Rensselaer County there has been a 41 percent jump in fatal overdoses this year compared to all of 2019. During one week in May, 30 overdoses occurred, including two deaths, region wide. Officials believed those overdoses arose from drugs sold from a single batch of drugs containing fentanyl. Read the full story in the Times Union.