The underground drug market is rife with dangers, with an especially alarming issue being the widespread occurrence of street drugs laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, has contributed substantially to the continuation of the U.S. opioid epidemic. This guide highlights the dangers associated with fentanyl-laced drugs. You can discover what drugs are being laced with fentanyl and find out why are drugs laced with fentanyl in the first place.
What Drugs Are Laced with Fentanyl?
Illicit drugs are frequently laced with fentanyl due to its highly addictive nature, creating a customer base that seeks its potent effects. Laced drugs may include heroin, cocaine, meth, counterfeit Xanax, counterfeit Adderall, and other non-opioid drugs, contributing to the heightened risks associated with their consumption.
Fentanyl is most commonly added to enhance the purity of heroin, serving as a cost-effective alternative to other opioids. This strategy allows drug traffickers to recreate the desirable effects of opioids like heroin or prescription painkillers, often achieved by incorporating a tiny amount of fentanyl into counterfeit opioid pills or substances misrepresented as heroin.
The Dangers of Fentanyl-Laced Drugs
The inclusion of fentanyl in illicit drugs poses severe and potentially fatal dangers, contributing to the alarming rise in overdose deaths. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) states that fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine, so significantly increases the risk of overdose, even with minute quantities. Here are some of the dangers associated with fentanyl-laced drugs:
- High potency: Fentanyl’s exceptional potency means that even a small miscalculation in dosage during the lacing process can lead to life-threatening consequences. People may inadvertently ingest a lethal amount, especially when the drug distribution is inconsistent.
- Increased chance of overdose: Fentanyl-laced drugs substantially heighten the risk of overdose due to the potency of the synthetic opioid. People accustomed to specific dosages of other substances may inadvertently expose themselves to a lethal dose when consuming drugs contaminated with fentanyl.
- Respiratory depression: Fentanyl, like other opioids, can cause respiratory depression, slowing down or even stopping breathing. This effect is particularly dangerous when fentanyl is mixed with other substances, amplifying the risk of respiratory failure and overdose.
- Rapid onset of effects: Fentanyl’s rapid onset of action intensifies the speed at which someone experience its effects. This quick onset increases the likelihood of a person taking more of the substance, believing the initial dose was insufficient, leading to an overdose.
- Difficulty in reversing overdose: The standard opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone, may be less effective in reversing a fentanyl overdose due to its potency. Multiple doses of naloxone may be required, and the window of time for intervention is often narrow.
- Unpredictable drug combinations: Fentanyl-laced drugs may be mixed with various substances, and people are often unaware of the exact composition. This unpredictability makes it challenging to anticipate the combined effects of the substances, increasing the risk of adverse reactions.
- Allergic reactions: Some people may unknowingly be allergic to fentanyl or other substances present in the laced drugs, leading to severe allergic reactions that can be life-threatening.
- Increased risk of dependence and addiction: Fentanyl’s highly addictive nature can lead to increased dependence on laced drugs, fostering a cycle of addiction that poses long-term health risks and challenges for individuals seeking recovery.
- Community impact: The prevalence of fentanyl-laced drugs contributes to a broader public health crisis, impacting communities and straining emergency response systems with the surge in overdoses responsible for more than 70,000 deaths in 2021.
Understanding these dangers can help individuals, communities, and healthcare providers to address the complex challenges associated with fentanyl-laced drugs and work towards effective prevention and intervention strategies.
FAQs
Is weed laced with fentanyl?
There have been isolated cases where fentanyl was found in weed, but it’s exceptionally rare. Fentanyl is not commonly used to lace marijuana due to significant cost differences. Additionally, marijuana does not come in powdered form, making it challenging to adulterate weed with fentanyl undetected.
Is Xanax laced with fentanyl?
Many cases of Xanax being laced with fentanyl have been reported, highlighting the importance of obtaining prescription medications from legitimate sources. Illicitly manufactured Xanax may pose a higher risk of contamination with fentanyl and other substances.
Is cocaine laced with fentanyl?
Cocaine is occasionally found laced with fentanyl, significantly increasing the risk of overdose.
Why do people lace drugs with fentanyl?
The illicit addition of fentanyl to drugs is driven by its potency and cost-effectiveness. Fentanyl is cheap to produce and significantly enhances the effects of substances like heroin, leading to maximized profit margins for traffickers. However, lacing drugs with fentanyl can be deadly due to the potency of the synthetic opioid.
Get Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction at Gratitude Lodge
Fentanyl is a deadly drug, but all opioid addictions can be treated with a combination of medications and talk therapies. Avoid severe fentanyl withdrawal symptoms by engaging with our supervised detox services at Gratitude Lodge in Southern California. Take advantage of clinical care and FDA-approved medications to withdraw from fentanyl as comfortably as possible.
During ongoing inpatient treatment at our Long Beach or Newport Beach facilities, you can access the following therapies:
- MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
- Talk therapies
- Group therapy
- Individual counseling
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Aftercare planning
We can help you tackle fentanyl dependence and addiction with effective and compassionate treatment at Gratitude Lodge. Call 800-994-2184 for on-the-spot help.
