Many Heroin Users Unaware of Fentanyl Mix
In recent years, we regularly see devastating death rates related to fentanyl-laced drugs which include heroin and other prescription opioids.
In recent years, we regularly see devastating death rates related to fentanyl-laced drugs which include heroin and other opioids. Yet, heroin addicts are also becoming addicted to Fentanyl instead of heroin when they did not intend to.
Drug cartels mix illegally manufactured fentanyl with heroin (and other drugs) to increase drug profits since it blends into heroin and gets someone extremely high and addicted fast. Fentanyl is one hundred times more potent than pure morphine and fifty times stronger than heroin. Miniscule amounts of Fentanyl can also kill a person instantaneously.
Fentanyl is now also being sold as powders, nasal sprays, and pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. (DEA)
What Is Fentanyl Used For?
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid; it was developed for medical purposes in the 1960s. Fentanyl comes in two forms: pharmaceutically produced fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. They are both synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is legal and only prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain. It is prescribed for chronic pain from injury, post-surgery, burns, and other long-term medical conditions where less powerful opioids are ineffective.
Illicit fentanyl is produced in China and Mexico and is made to cause addiction. It is smuggled into the United States and mixed in with drugs to be sold on the streets. The strength of each (legal and illegal) is different, especially with illegal Fentanyl, where there is no quality control. Both pharmaceutical and illicit fentanyl can cause death.
Why Is Fentanyl Being Laced With Heroin and Other Drugs?
Drug cartels are mixing fentanyl into heroin and other street drugs to get more people addicted. Their primary market is heroin addicts. Heroin is an opioid, and these individuals must use it every day, or they will get extremely sick. Fentanyl addicts require even more opioids regularly than heroin addicts. The potency of fentanyl is much greater than heroin, which means they will need more opioids in their system to prevent physical withdrawal symptoms. Other drug users also get addicted to fentanyl, unbeknown to them.
The high that fentanyl creates is vastly different from, let’s say, cocaine or meth, but the euphoria is often considered more intense or pleasurable. Therefore, a non-opioid or heroin drug user will become one if they use Fentanyl laced ‘anything’ enough times. The cartels use Fentanyl to increase addiction and profits.
How Do Authorities Know Which Drugs Are Laced With Fentanyl?
The Drug Enforcement Agency has monitored all seizures of drugs, specifically fentanyl, because of the enormous increase in accidental overdose and death. Fentanyl-laced heroin and other drugs are an urgent matter as the DEA has stated:
There is a significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with Fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have mixed Fentanyl with other drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and counterfeit prescription pills. Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by kilograms. One kilogram of Fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. (DEA)
How Addicted Idividuals Can Avoid Fentanyl
The only way to prevent ingesting Fentanyl is not to use any illegal drug. The likelihood of using Fentanyl laced heroin is exceptionally high as it is for other drugs. The answer for heroin addicts is to seek treatment and detox to end their addiction to heroin and/or Fentanyl because it could eventually kill them. The treatment offered at On-Call Treatment Center starts their patients in a medically supervised detox that will screen for fentanyl in their system.
If they are unaware of the drug addiction posing as heroin addiction and it is fentanyl, they need prompt medical attention. For these reasons, we provide same-day admission to detox to provide them medical care and medicines to keep them from using as soon as they develop withdrawal symptoms.
Help is HERE for Addiction to Fentanyl
On-Call Treatment Center has helped countless unsuspecting fentanyl addicted individuals overcome their addiction to fentanyl and other drugs. We provide same-day admission to our medical detox, where the patient is assessed and given medications to treat their withdrawal symptoms.
Next, we offer them an evidence-based treatment tailored to their drug use and emotional needs. Do not let another day pass wondering if you are addicted to fentanyl and not heroin or other drugs. We have the answer on how to save you from more struggles.
