In the form of powders and pills, synthetic or “designer” drugs are becoming a bigger and bigger problem in San Diego, contributing to drug overdose deaths across the county. One of the deadliest is fentanyl, a synthetic opiate, that dealers have been using to cut heroin or to create counterfeit pills that look like the real thing but trigger a deadly overdose. The drug, which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, can be deadly in small amounts, and buyers who have no idea what they are purchasing can inadvertently experience a medical emergency or overdose as a result of taking the drug.
Here’s what you need to know.
- No pills purchased on the street are safe. Even if the pills say “Xanax” – a sedative used to treat anxiety – if you are buying them on the street, they could be pure fentanyl or heroin laced with fentanyl. There is no way to tell; the counterfeit pills are virtually indistinguishable from the real ones. Even if they are not fentanyl, buyers have no idea what is in the pills they buy on the street or even online. There may be any number of chemicals used to cut the active ingredient, or they may be stale or have been stored unsafely if they are the real deal, rendering them ineffective or even harmful.
- No street drug is safe even if it is from a known dealer. Even for long-time drug users who have a regular person from whom they buy, there is no way to know the content of the substance being purchased. Often, the drug is cut multiple times on the way from its original producer, usually a drug cartel in Mexico or South America, and the final seller may have no idea what is in it. There is no safe source of illicit or illegal drugs, including fentanyl.
- Naloxone can help, but multiple doses may be needed. Naloxone is a medication that can effectively overturn an opiate overdose. The symptoms of distress that are triggered by the drug stop when naloxone is administered – as long as it is administered in time, correctly, and in the right dose. In the case of fentanyl, a highly potent drug, it may take more than one dose of naloxone to reverse the effects and save someone’s life. It is also important to note that naloxone does not address the addiction issue; it only stops the overdose in that instant. If more fentanyl or other opiate drugs are taken, the overdose can recur.
- Some people seek out fentanyl in search of a higher high. Not everyone ingests fentanyl accidentally. Some long-term opiate users see fentanyl as a potent opiate drug that can get them high when even high doses of heroin have little effect due to years of use. They are just as susceptible to overdose, however. Body chemistry fluctuates as does the potency of one batch of fentanyl versus another, and it is very easy to take too much and overdose.
Over the past few years, there has been a steady uptick in opiate overdoses across the country, and fentanyl is increasingly identified as the cause of death. Every part of the country has struggled with more drug seizures that are laced with fentanyl, officers experiencing medical emergency when they come in contact with the drug during a normal search, and emergency room admissions due to use of fentanyl.
Though medical-grade fentanyl can be useful as a sedative and pain reliever, especially in a hospital setting, the street version of the drug is far different. Patients who consider taking the drug should discuss the pros and cons with their doctor. If they do decide to bring a prescription home, it is vitally important that the pills be stored in a safe place away from those who might inadvertently take them or purposefully use them recreationally.
If someone you love is struggling with an addiction to fentanyl, treatment is the best path forward. Medical detox followed by intensive therapeutic treatment can potentially save the life of a person who is living with opiate addiction.
Is now the time for you to reach out to someone you love and help them connect with treatment?
