Fentanyl, which can be injected, snorted or smoked, is 80 times more potent than heroin, according to the DEA. (Getty Images)

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PATERSON - Seven people overdosed on drugs in a 24-hour period Thursday in Paterson - four of them in a one-hour period in a park on Ward Street, authorities said Friday.

The four were found together near a U.S. Post Office. The others were in various parts of the city, police said.

All seven victims survived after receiving medical treatment, police said.

Though toxicology reports were not available, Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale suspects the overdoses are symptomatic of a larger problem involving powerful and fast-acting synthetic pain medications.

"Fentanyl and carafentinal are increasingly apparent and becoming a national problem," Speziale said Friday. "Many toxicology reports come back with what is categorized as polypharm, which means there's a combination of heroin, fentanyl and other opiods."

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is about 80 times more potent than morphine. Like heroin, the drug can be injected, snorted or smoked.

Carfentanil is up to 10,000 times more potent than morphine and is used in veterinary practices to immobilize large animals, according to the DEA.

Speziale said it was unusual that four people would overdose in the same spot at the same time.

"But if you get something that's laced or potent and (they're all taking) the same thing, it's power doesn't discriminate," he said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.