Huntington Health Physician, Pharmacist Teach Community How To Identify An Overdose And What To Do

Approximately 80 percent of heroin users start with prescription opioids, according to NIDA, though most of that medication wasn’t originally prescribed for them. This surge in illicit fentanyl presents a new challenge for families and medical professionals trying to keep loved ones from the harm of opioid misuse. And it’s unclear if the most validated defense for opioid misuse — medication-assisted therapies like naloxone, methadone and buprenorphine — can stem the surge of overdoses caused by fentanyl. Fentanyl-related overdoses have become the No. 1 cause of death among America’s young adults (18-45), according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that between October 2020 and October 2021, overdoses killed 105,000 Americans. And two-thirds of those overdose deaths involved a synthetic opioid like fentanyl.

What Is Fentanyl And Why Is It Behind The Deadly Surge In US Drug Overdoses?

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), nearly half of all counterfeit pills tested contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. This figure is particularly alarming because it can be difficult to distinguish genuine pills from fake or counterfeit versions. Check out the examples below to see how counterfeit pills can be designed to look just like genuine pharmaceuticals. People can also develop a tolerance for Opioids like Fentanyl requiring them to use more and more to get high. This causes drug dealers and cartels to make stronger pills with more Fentanyl. However, these stronger pills may kill newer users whohave not developed such a tolerance.

More Than 80% Of People Who Inject Drugs Test Positive For Fentanyl—But Only 18% Intend To Take It

Preventing Opioid Overdose: Focus On Fentanyl

Snapchat has said it’s made operational improvements to detect and remove drug dealers from the platform and works closely with law enforcement and other groups in raising awareness of drug issues, fentanyl and counterfeit drugs. They say they have blocked search results for drug-related terms, redirecting Snapchatters to resources from experts about the dangers of fentanyl. People are still able to purchase these drugs online because drug dealers are creative in how they ‘outreach’ to users, including the use of emojis. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, continues to drive overdose deaths in San Francisco and in cities across the nation. Investigations into drug overdoses have shown the difficulty in identifying whether drugs were commercially or illegally produced. For example, carfentanyl and other analogs do not show up on traditional opioid toxicology testing.

Do People Buy Fentanyl?

But it is one thing to test samples in a laboratory, using known spectra libraries and large instruments. The testing process also takes time—too much time for a field setting. Dogs with their keen sense of smell have been trained for a variety of U.S. security and emergency response settings for more than 50 years. The first drug-sniffing dogs were put into service in the mid-1960s and are now regularly seen in cargo terminals, airports, mail delivery and sorting centers, and even schools.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through prescription. Despite its legal status, there is a growing black market for fentanyl, and many people are buying it illegally.

By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Dr. Christy Sutherland, medical director at PHS Community Services Society, told the Globe it seems “very strange” that she is coordinating fentanyl sales as a family doctor. “My message is live your life. You tor darknet markets don’t want to be represented on the t-shirt that I have to wear of my son. You don’t want your parents to have to experience what we’re going through.” “She suffered from anxiety and depression, and was on a couple of medications for that. I guess she just wanted something stronger or different. We travelled to the city of Kyle in Texas to hear the stories of families whose lives have been ripped apart.

Why Do People Buy Fentanyl Illegally?

There are several reasons why people buy fentanyl illegally. Some people use it to manage chronic pain, while others use it to get high. Fentanyl is highly addictive and can cause severe physical and psychological dependence. People who become addicted to fentanyl may turn to the black market to obtain it, as it is often cheaper and easier to obtain than through a legitimate prescription.

Fentanyl is Highly Potent

Fentanyl is a highly potent drug, which means that a small amount can produce powerful effects. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to increase their browse the dark web potency. This practice is dangerous, as it can lead to accidental overdoses. Fentanyl is so potent that it can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, making it easy to overdose accidentally.

Fentanyl is Cheap and Widely Available

Fentanyl is relatively cheap and widely available on the black market. It can be purchased online or through illegal drug dealers. Fentanyl is often manufactured in clandestine labs, which makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track down and shut down the sources of supply. As a result, fentanyl is becoming increasingly prevalent in communities across the country.

The Dangers of Buying Fentanyl Illegally

Buying fentanyl illegally is dangerous and can have dark web reddit serious consequences. Fentanyl is a highly potent drug

• You cannot smell or taste fentanyl, so consider carrying Fentanyl Test Strips to prevent ingestion.
• So in places like Tijuana or Ciudad Juárez, fentanyl is deeply spreading and spread already across local drug markets.
• And so the United States moving to allowing that at state level, at community level, at a federal level, has been big progress.
• Check out the image to the side for scale to see what 2 mg of fentanyl looks like.
• Customs by shipping it to a co-conspirator in the United States posing as a legitimate chemical company.