In 2022, the drug was involved in 90% of fatal opioid overdoses in the state and 65% of all overdose deaths, according to the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute. The risk is especially high among persons who are not tolerant to the drugs effects (opioid-naïve) and may not be aware that the drugs they use contain fentanyl. Because fentanyl is so potent, its use in people who are naïve to fentanyl use can quickly lead to overdose and death. Naloxone will not reverse the effects of xylazine, but it does help reverse the effects of opioids such as fentanyl. Naloxone should still be given because xylazine is often used with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is prescribed for severe pain relief. However, it has also gained notoriety as a dangerous and addictive street drug. Due to its potency, fentanyl can be lethal in even small doses, making it a major concern for public health officials.
Opioid Reversal Agent Distribution Program
The Dangers of Buying Fentanyl Online
In King County, fentanyl-involved overdoses kill two people in our community every day. Nationwide, fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide and other accidents. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 4 Feb 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Feb 2024), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2024) and others.
California Experiments With Distributing Fentanyl Tests
But today fentanyl can be ordered on the internet, by drug dealers and addicts, for an online overdose. As we first reported in April, tracking the source of this illicit trade is a story that begins with James Rauh. Like most in Akron, Ohio, he’d never heard of fentanyl until the police told him his son was dead.
Buying fentanyl online is extremely risky and illegal. Many websites that claim to sell fentanyl are actually scams or selling counterfeit drugs. There is no way to guarantee the purity or safety of fentanyl purchased online, which can lead to overdose and death.
Avoid Using Substances Alone
How to Safely Obtain Fentanyl
Occasionally, Chen replied directly to loyal customers, even paying for a Lyft ride to the hospital as compensation when one customer complained he had overdosed on Chen’s product. Similar to methamphetamine, the illicit manufacture and distribution of fentanyl is lucrative for the Mexican cartels. They manufacture it in their own Mexican-based labs using precursor chemicals imported from China. This boosts the efficiency of its operations and results in enormous criminal proceeds. Synthetic opioids, which have dramatically increased in availability and popularity, can be far more powerful than heroin — and therefore easier to move without detection. In an example of how anonymous companies can used to front as legitimate businesses, Owen Hanson allegedly lead a violent international narcotics trafficking and gambling ring based in San Diego, California.
If you have a legitimate medical need for fentanyl, it is important to obtain it through a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription from a healthcare provider. This ensures that you are receiving a safe and regulated product that has been properly tested and approved.
This includes illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, etc.) as well as prescription medications (Xanax, Oxycodone, etc.). Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine. Validation of this typology is necessary and can be done by correlating users’ perceptions and discernment with drug toxicological testing. In addition, the usefulness of this tool as a method to prevent overdose could be tested epidemiologically, with measures of users’ discernment as predictors in models of overdose. Discernment of FASH may be a foundational step in users’ decisions regarding safer routes of administration (eg insufflation), amount of heroin used (partial) and time taken to consume it (longer). It may also be used as an indicator of market shifts and user preferences between these products.
- People using xylazine can develop a dependence and may be at risk of withdrawal.
- The sellers preferred Bitcoin, the investigators said, but they also accepted Western Union transfers, PayPal, and prepaid credit cards.
- This makes drugs cheaper, more potent, more addictive, and more dangerous.
- The fentanyl ban implemented by DreamMarket on the 20th of May 2018 had considerable effect on the availability of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl and fentanyl analog listings.
- If someone is unconscious or has any of these signs, administer naloxone and call 911 immediately.
- The subsequent surge of euphoria and relaxation fuels the need for more and more.
Seek Help if You are Addicted
You can also purchase strips for delivery from DoseTest and The Bunk Police. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering operations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. What changed was, in the early 19th century, Friedrich Sertürner isolated the active ingredient in opium, which is morphine. After that, scientists continued to manipulate morphine chemically and created heroin in 1898 – which is 10 to 50 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, created in laboratories in the 1960’s as a potent pain reliever for very specific circumstances.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl addiction, it is important to seek help from a healthcare professional or addiction treatment center. There are resources available to help individuals overcome addiction and regain control of their lives.
Remember, buying fentanyl online is dangerous and illegal. It is always best to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment options. Stay safe and prioritize your health above all else.
