Since September of last year, 37 Marylanders have died because of a fatal combination of Fentanyl and heroin. Sometimes these users are dead within mere minutes of first using. The reason behind this trend is that drug dealers are lacing the potent painkiller in with heroin, oftentimes without warning their users that they are actually mixing these two substances together. Law enforcement officials are already warning about the dangers of the combination because Maryland is not the only affected state. In fact, there are dozens dead in several different states.
Why are More People at Risk of an Overdose?
The risk of a fatal overdose is because of the addition of Fentanyl. Because estimates suggest that Fentanyl is hundreds of times more potent than heroin and 80 times more powerful than morphine, it is understandable that if someone is unaware of what they are buying and using, it could lead to deadly accidents.
One of the reasons that most drug abusers ingest larger amounts than the average first-time user is because long-term drug abusers build up a tolerance. This means that they would use more than the average human would be able to use and their bodies have become accustomed to it. However, despite that, if they (unknowingly) inject a substance that is 50 times more potent than what they were expecting, chances are that their body will be unable to handle it. This could lead to very dangerous outcomes.
Why do People Willingly Switch to this Substance?
Another reason that we are seeing the number of overdoses attributed to Fentanyl use increase is because many people struggling with an opiate addiction are actively seeking out the drug themselves. Because of its potency, it means that people need far less of it to get the desired high.
We have already seen the shift from prescription opiate painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin to heroin. One of the reasons for that is because the body will slowly adapt to the drugs that people take, especially if this person is a regular user. This means that as time goes on, the user is going to need more of the same substance in order to feel the same pleasurable sensations that got them hooked in the first place.
Because of the concerns about abuse and addictions, doctors are not as willing to write prescriptions for these opiate medications anymore. Law enforcement also started cracking down on the proverbial ‘pill mills’, clinics that filled large number of prescriptions for illicit use. This made the overall price of the product skyrocket.
With the price of OxyContin and Vicodin skyrocketing, that meant that many people who have a daily habit were unable to pay for the amounts they needed to keep them from experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This is why they made the difficult decision to switch to heroin instead. However, now Fentanyl is an even more affordable option for those who are heavy users; a 100-microgram patch of Fentanyl costs anywhere between $60 and $75. If the person knows how to use it, it gives them about five to six times the effects that heroin is capable of doing.
Another reason that some people use is because they are unaware of what they are putting in their bodies. Their dealers may tell them something along the lines of ‘This is much more potent, you should give it a try”. That does not describe how much more dangerous the drug truly is. It is possible for the substance to trigger respiratory failure within minutes after first using.
The Effects of the Drug – Including Overdose
Because it is used to treat intense cancer pain or chronic pain, it should be obvious that Fentanyl is an extremely potent narcotic pain reliever. Doctors may prescribe this when other pain relievers (including OxyContin etc.) are unable to provide the level of relief that is needed. It is also available in different forms, including skin patches, flavored lollipops and an intravenous solution. Because of its potency, it comes with many different dangers.
An overdose can lead to severe health complications and may even prove to be fatal. For users that are prescribed the drug, an overdose is likely to occur at the beginning of the treatment. As with most other substances, the body slowly develops a tolerance as use continues. Signs of an overdose may include a slowed heartbeat, seizures, contracted pupils, low blood pressure, cold or clammy skin and hyperventilation.
While it is an effective method of relieving pain, there are both serious and mild side effects to the use of the drug. The milder side effects include stomach pain, headaches, constipation and nausea. Some of the more serious and even life-threatening side effects include allergic reactions such as swelling or hives, shallow breathing, liver damage and addiction.
While it has a number of different side effects, health problems may also occur if the user stops using Fentanyl altogether. Aside from the traditional cravings for more of the substance that anyone with dependence may feel, patients may experience night sweats, a loss of appetite, insomnia, hot flashes and constipation.
What Can We Do?
One of the first things we can do is warn the drug-using community of the dangers of Fentanyl. Despite the fact that many law enforcement officials and politicians may cringe at the very notion, it is one of the few ways to ensure that more people are not going to die because of an accidental overdose. Perhaps it will lead to users reconsidering their sources. While certainly not an ideal solution to the problem, it may help prevent more people from becoming another statistic.
Despite the government’s best intentions and actions over the last decade, we are unable to control the flow and the trade of drugs into the country. What we do control is information. We have the ability to let people know how dangerous these substances are. We can also let them know that there is no certainty that what is being promised is actually what is being bought.
One final step would be to offer comprehensive drug treatment instead of punishment. This would allow these long-term users to accept professional help and try to get better. This would eliminate the risk of an overdose, and would certainly be more effective than locking people up.
