The Dangerous Rise in Drugs Laced With Fentanyl

The Dangerous Rise in Drugs Laced With Fentanyl

Overdose deaths hit new highs in the US, with over 100,000 deaths in one year.1 Health officials, researchers, and physicians are concerned about the growing trend among victims that indicates synthetic opioids, like drugs laced with fentanyl, may be involved.

Named as the fourth wave of the overdose epidemic, the 100,000-death figure marks a surge in the deaths from methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs mixed with fentanyl. Fentanyl was indicated in over half of the cases, according to Dr. Robert Anderson at the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics.2

The Dangerous Rise in Drugs Laced With Fentanyl

The addition of fentanyl differentiates this epidemic from the previous one involving prescription pain medications. As a result, experts call this an “overdose epidemic” rather than the opioid epidemic.

What is Fentanyl?

Medical professionals use fentanyl to treat severe pain in their patients. Similar to morphine but much more potent, fentanyl is a Schedule II substance exclusively for medical use under the supervision of a professional.3 Medical staff must closely observe patients who take fentanyl as a prescription for any signs of dependence or abuse.

What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl Overdose

Outside of medical settings, fentanyl is often abused. Illicit fentanyl is manufactured in labs in Mexico and smuggled into the US for distribution on the illegal drug market. While it’s used on its own, fentanyl may also be mixed into other drugs to increase the potency, leading to potentially lethal doses. As a result, fentanyl has been laced into methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, leading to overdoses.

In addition, there may not be controls or regulations for manufacturing fentanyl, so users are more likely to take a lethal dose. DEA analysis of counterfeit pills showed a range of 0.02 to 5.1 milligrams, which is more than twice the lethal dose of fentanyl per tablet.4

Fentanyl addiction

Because illegal drug makers secretly add fentanyl into other drugs, a person can unknowingly consume it and die of an overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the US, which increased 38.4 percent leading up to May 2020 compared to the previous year.5

  • 37% of the 38 US jurisdictions with synthetic opioid data reported increases in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths
  • 18 of these jurisdictions reported increases over 50 percent
  • 10 states reported over a 98 percent increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths

Effects of Fentanyl and Drugs Laced with Fentanyl

In clinical settings, medical professionals use fentanyl to treat severe pain since it is roughly 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. 

Effects of Fentanyl

When used, fentanyl causes effects like:6

  • Euphoria
  • Pain relief
  • Sedation
  • Relaxation
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Urinary retention
  • Pupillary constriction

In overdoses, fentanyl can cause effects like:

  • Cold, clammy skin
  • Changes in pupil size
  • Severe confusion
  • Respiratory failure leading to death
  • Coma

When a person consumes other drugs like cocaine or heroin as well, these effects intensify, with potentially lethal consequences. While some users may be deliberately mixing fentanyl with other drugs, the mix is likely occurring at the distributor level and putting people at risk unknowingly.7

What Happens During Fentanyl Overdose?

Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction at Clear Life Recovery

Whether taken deliberately or disguised within another illicit drug, fentanyl is highly addictive because of its potency. Even with a prescription and physician supervision, fentanyl can quickly lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

If you or someone you know is battling fentanyl or other drugs like heroin and meth that may contain fentanyl, we’re here to help. Clear Life Recovery specializes in treating fentanyl addiction and withdrawal symptoms to help you return to a sober, healthy life. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs.

Sources:

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/yearly-drug-overdose-deaths-top-100000-first-time-rcna5656
[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/yearly-drug-overdose-deaths-top-100000-first-time-rcna5656
[3] https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/fentanyl
[4] https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/p1218-overdose-deaths-covid-19.html
[6] https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
[7] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/yearly-drug-overdose-deaths-top-100000-first-time-rcna5656

About Benjamin Hogan

Over the years, Benjamin has held positions in many different areas of alcohol and drug addiction services all over the country. He made a name for himself as an interventionist and has held certification as a Certified National Drug and Alcohol Interventionist (CNDAI-II). Benjamin specializes in helping support families of people struggling with addiction by focusing on education and instilling healthy boundaries to ensure lasting changes. Addiction is a progressive disease, but using an evidence-based approach, an intervention, when done correctly, can help to increase the willingness of a loved one to seek sobriety faster. "In my experience, by helping families make necessary changes, they not only get their lives back, but they also help change the mind of their loved one more quickly. In an intervention, family and other loved ones take a proactive approach, instead of waiting and being stuck between fear and (false) hope. I realized in my own recovery, that when my family changed, I had to change in response. That is where I found sobriety. This is why I believe in what I do!"