Columbia woman dead after possible illicit drug overdose

UPDATE: Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad Fraizer confirmed emergency crews used Narcan on one of the victims.

Narcan is a drug that Columbia police and firefighters carried and can be used to try to revive those who have overdosed on something opioid-related.

But Fraizer said that doesn’t necessarily mean the victim had overdosed on anything opioid-related.

“The nice thing about Narcan is we can use it if we have a suspicion of an opioid overdose,” he said. “If it wasn’t involved, there are generally no side effects and no negative reactions if it wasn’t an opioid so its safer to use.”

ORIGINAL STORY: Columbia police are investigating a fatal overdose Monday after a woman was found dead at a home on Jenne Hill Drive in north Columbia.

According to a press release, police were called to the home Sunday morning at 10:50 a.m.

They found Mariea Jackson, 31, dead inside the home. A man was also found inside the home in “severe medical distress.” He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police found evidence of “possible illicit drug use” after they served a search warrant.

The investigation is ongoing.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the gender of Mariea Jackson.