They were originally designed to check urine for fentanyl, but harm reduction advocates found that the tests could work when a little bit of the product was mixed with water. Many substances are laced with other substances, like fentanyl. Learn tips for how you can help protect your child from accidental overdose. Naloxone can reverse a fentanyl overdose, although in some cases it may take more doses because fentanyl is so potent. You should also call 911, just like for any medical emergency, so extra help is on the way. Fentanyl overdose often comes on much faster and stronger than a typical opioid overdose.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used medically for pain relief, but it is also commonly abused for its euphoric effects. Due to its potency, fentanyl can be extremely dangerous and even deadly when misused. Despite the risks, some individuals may still seek out this drug for recreational purposes.
Additional Help For Fentanyl Addiction
Illegal Online Marketplaces
One of the most common ways to buy fentanyl illegally is through online marketplaces on the dark web. These websites operate anonymously and can be accessed using special software that conceals users’ identities. Sellers on these platforms often offer various drugs, including fentanyl, for purchase using cryptocurrency as payment.
Community Overdose Prevention Education
Since the 1990s, the drug has been available in a patch or lozenge for easy and effective delivery of the time-released medicines. Fentanyl is so potent that residual chemicals in used patches have been suspected of contaminating water supplies when flushed down the toilet. Used patches have also been known to stick to children or animals, causing unintentional overdoses. Illegally manufactured fentanyl falls under the category of synthetic opioids and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says two milligrams is considered a lethal dose depending on one’s body size and tolerance. A common misconception is that these counterfeit prescription drugs are being laced with fentanyl.
- “These fake pills are everywhere, to the point that if you get a pill online or anywhere that didn’t come directly from your doctor, you pretty much can assume that it’s counterfeit.
- Opioids, used in tandem with alcohol or other “downers” (such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and sleep medications) are particularly dangerous, and Narcan can save lives while help is on the way.
- Research has shown that people who use fentanyl test strips often make changes that can keep them safer.
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Street Dealers
What is fentanyl?
Another way to buy fentanyl is through street dealers. These individuals may sell a variety of illicit substances, including opioids like fentanyl. However, purchasing drugs from street dealers is not only illegal but also extremely risky, as the quality and potency of the drug may vary greatly.
Fentanyl tests strips could prevent overdoses, but they’re often not allowed to
Because the cheapest thing for suppliers to buy is the fentanyl precursor and then press it into anything, they call it whatever the buyer says they want. Fentanyl’s growth from its original design as an effective surgical pain management tool to a leading cause of overdose death and concern has happened quickly – with severe consequences. Capital News Services articles may be reprinted exclusively by subscribing media organizations. CNS correspondents cover all aspects of Michigan state government.
Fake Prescription Pills
Oregon Health Authority
In some cases, counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl may be sold on the streets or online. These pills are designed to look like legitimate medications, such as oxycodone or Xanax, but they actually contain fentanyl instead. Buying these fake pills is highly dangerous, as they can easily lead to overdose and death.
Over that time period, he received 15 packages through the Postal Service on dates that closely corresponded to payments he made to an online seller. He died in early 2017 from “acute fentanyl intoxication.” He had received a package from an online seller just 30 days before his death. Recently, a group of investigators with the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations Googled “buy fentanyl online” on the open internet, then homed in on the six sites that were most responsive to their requests. An investigator on the committee, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the findings, said these represent a tiny fraction of the hundreds of fentanyl-selling sites on the web. Despite the number of overdoses Det. Cardinale has seen in the Valley, he believes the F.O.R.T. program is working. Last year, F.O.R.T responded to 84 overdoses; 34 resulted in death.
The move to decriminalize Fentanyl test strips comes after an alarming spike in the number of overdose deaths in recent years. Fentanyl test strips, which are backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of overdose. Xylazine may be mixed in with other illicit drugs for several reasons, including increasing drug weight or adding an effect. People who use drugs may not be aware of the presence of xylazine in their drug product. There are limitations to xylazine and fentanyl drug checking strips because illicit drugs are not evenly mixed. This means that fentanyl and/or xylazine may still be present in a drug product, even when a portion of the product tested with drug checking strips does not react.
It is important to remember that buying fentanyl from any source other than a legitimate medical provider is illegal and unsafe. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, seek help from a healthcare professional or addiction treatment center.