Do People Buy Fentanyl?

Back in the 1980s, cocaine, crack cocaine were spreading in the United States. There was plenty of cocaine in Latin America in the Andes to be supplying Europe at the same time; yet, Europe for another decade and a half was simply consuming heroin. All of a sudden come in 1990s, Latin American traffickers along with Italian drug – organized crime groups decide to be bringing cocaine into Europe and cocaine takes off and is the predominant – becomes the most active drug.

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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 that it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through prescription. Despite its legal status, fentanyl is often obtained illegally and used recreationally.

How is Fentanyl Obtained Illegally?

How Common Is Opioid Use Disorder?

The availability of black-market fentanyl and fentanyl analogs led to a U.S. opioid epidemic that continues to cause thousands of overdose deaths each year and destroy families and communities in the process. A lethal dose of carfentanyl, a fentanyl analog, is about the size of the head of a pin, requiring the full protection of hazmat suits. Some black-market drug makers create new fentanyl analogs to avoid classification as illegal, get around policy restrictions on manufacturing, and evade detection in standard drug tests. It can be difficult to determine if pills were legally produced for pharmaceutical distribution or illegally produced for illegal drug sales.

Fentanyl can be obtained illegally through a variety of means. Some people may steal it from pharmacies or hospitals, while others may obtain it from illegal drug dealers. Fentanyl is also sometimes mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to increase their potency. This is often done without the knowledge of the person buying the drugs, which can lead to accidental overdoses.

What Do You Want The Public To Know About Naloxone?

Who Buys Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is often bought by people who are looking for a more intense high than they can get from other opioids. It is also sometimes used as a substitute for heroin, which can be harder to obtain in some areas. However, fentanyl is extremely dangerous and should never be used without a prescription from a qualified medical professional.

What Is An Opioid?

It found 27 percent contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. A fraction of fentanyl could mimic the highs of other opioids, like heroin or prescription painkillers. Dealers will often use simple binding agents and a small amount of fentanyl when making counterfeit opioid pills or what they say is heroin, according to law enforcement. Due to high levels of stress, first responders and health care workers are at risk for substance use disorders. The Heroes Helpline is a free, confidential, telephone support line available to EMS and health care workers. Callers can access free peer support, learn how to navigate treatment and referral services, and receive information on employment and licensing concerns.

There are medicines being developed to help with the withdrawal process for fentanyl and other opioids. The FDA has approved lofexidine, a non-opioid medicine designed to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Also, the NSS-2 Bridge device is a small electrical nerve stimulator placed behind the person’s ear, that can be used to try to ease symptoms for up to five days during the acute withdrawal phase.

The Dangers of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a highly potent drug that can be deadly even in small doses. It can cause respiratory depression, which means that it can slow down or stop a person’s breathing. This can lead to unconsciousness and death. Fentanyl is also highly addictive, which means that it can be difficult to stop using once a person has started. This can lead to a cycle of addiction and overdose that can be difficult to break.

Preventing Fentanyl Overdoses

The best way to prevent fentanyl overdoses is to avoid using the drug altogether. However, if a person does use fentanyl, they should always use it in a safe and controlled environment, such as with a trusted friend or family member who can monitor their breathing and call for help if necessary. It is also important to never use fentanyl alone, as this can increase the risk of overdose.

If a person does overdose on fentanyl, it is important to call 911 immediately. Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, should also be administered as soon as possible. Naloxone is available without a prescription in many states, and it can be obtained from pharmacies, harm reduction organizations, and some community centers.

Conclusion

• So while the serious issue of the Fentanyl crisis has touched us here in our community, we are probably better positioned than many in dealing with it.
• If you’ve been prescribed an opioid, many health care providers also co-prescribe naloxone in case of an overdose.
• Consistent with other recent studies, we found that people learning of unintentional fentanyl use expressed strong concerns about accidental overdose.
• If you are interested in learning about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips, or your organization is distributing fentanyl test strips in the community, register for an upcoming training below.
• And a reminder that remarks of today’s briefing do not represent the views of the United States Government.

Dr. Christo says high schools and colleges should have fentanyl testing strips and Narcan available to curb deaths. Students think they are buying things like OxyContin and Percocets, but they are being duped with fentanyl-laced pills. SEATTLE – The DEA says drug cartels are relentlessly going after young people on social media, making it that much easier to buy and sell drugs.

Fentanyl is a highly potent and dangerous drug that should never be used without a prescription from a qualified medical professional. Despite its legal status, fentanyl is often obtained illegally and used recreationally. This can lead to accidental overdoses and addiction. To prevent fentanyl overdoses, it is important to avoid using the drug altogether and to use it in a safe and controlled environment if it is used. If a person does overdose on fentanyl, it is important to call 911 immediately and to administer naloxone as soon as possible.