Why is fentanyl so dangerous?

Each method strictly limits the fentanyl dosage given the patient. Fentanyl can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and heroin. “Street drugs have gotten a lot more variable since the start of the pandemic. Now you have mom and pop shops making street drugs – that creates disincentives for stability and control,” Dasgupta said.

It is important for people to understand what the signs of an opioid overdose are. Knowing can help them protect themselves and their loved ones. That’s because fentanyl is undetectable by the human eye and is responsible for thousands of deaths in Camden County alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid or fentanyl addition, there is help available. You can find out more about our drug and alcohol addiction treatment process, which is always customized to meet your individual needs. If you are suffering from drug addiction, the professional team at Windward Way Recovery can help.

Fentanyl Facts

Schools and programs serving youth can increase awareness and create safe environments for children. They can educate youth and their community on the dangers of fentanyl and how to help prevent opioid misuse and addiction. There are a number of test strips you can use to test for fentanyl.

Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies, like Percocet and Xanax. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These particular pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. Only take prescribed medicines purchased over-the-counter at a pharmacy.

Know the Facts about Fentanyl Poisoning

Because Fentanyl is cheap and so highly addictive, it creates a much greater profit margin. The occasional loss of one or two users are not detrimental to their bottom line because they https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-brain-fog-of-alcoholism-is-and-when-it-goes-away/ know that another addict can be easily created. Helplines, also known as hotlines or crisis lines, exist to provide free, confidential help to anyone in need of emotional support.

• Windward Way Recovery offers a wide range of treatment programs and resources to help those suffering from opiate addiction and other substance abuse disorders.
• Many overdoses happen when a person stops drug use for a time, then starts again with the same dose they used before.
• These substances are often referred to as endogenous opiates because they have a similar chemical structure to opiate drugs.
• They slow down the actions of the neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
• Learn about prevention, harm reduction and substance use at CU Boulder.

As Jackson County Drug Task Force Officer-In-Charge Dan Cummings points out, “there’s no quality control among drug dealers” who are motivated almost entirely by maximizing their profits. Using fentanyl allows them to add more potency to the drugs they’re selling, which also makes users even more dependent and likely to buy more. Done correctly, lacing illicit drugs with fentanyl often creates a return stream of customers because fentanyl is considered highly addictive. This is why fentanyl is often found in drugs like cocaine, counterfeit Xanax, counterfeit Adderall, or other drugs not classified as opioids. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Part three: TVF&R and Metro West discuss responding to fentanyl overdoses

As a result, many people may not know they’re ingesting fentanyl, leading to an accidental poisoning. If you’ve used fentanyl or other substances in the past and have recently experienced a period of sobriety, your tolerance for the drug has likely decreased. If you choose to use again, be mindful of potential changes in drug potency and start with a smaller dose than you might have used in the past. These strategies can help you avoid an accidental overdose or other unwanted experiences. Start with a very small dose every time you use something that could be contaminated with fentanyl.

Lack of oxygen flow to the brain can lead to coma, permanent brain damage and death. Taking any counterfeit pill is a possible life-and-death proposition. What are your odds of not overdosing if that pill contains fentanyl? — That’s what you’re doing if you’re taking pills not prescribed to you by your doctor. The total number of overdose deaths involving any opioid surpassed 80,000 in 2021, the last year for which the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) has complete data.

Six out of every 10 pills that contain Fentanyl can lead to potentially lethal dose (DEA). Fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and many times that of heroin. One 2 milligram (mg) dose of fentanyl is enough to kill an adult, but may be how long does fentanyl stay in your system more or less depending upon your body size, opioid tolerance, and former usage. Fentanyl can kill you within a matter of 2 minutes, usually due to respiratory failure (breathing that has stopped). There is no way to know how much illicit fentanyl may be contained in a drug you plan to use or how potent it is.