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accessHealthNews.net
August 2023
Volume 9 | Issue No. 73
T
eens and young adults experimenting with drugs is not
a new phenomenon or concern. However, because
of the growing prominence of fentanyl-laced drugs and
fake prescription pills, the chances of a fatal overdose
have reached an all-time high. Now, one pill, one dose,
one experiment is enough to be their last. One pill can
kill.
Fentanyl's Fatality
Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid 50 times
more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than
morphine. When prescribed and given under careful
medical supervision, it is used to treat pain. Because of its
high potency, however, it is being added to many "street
drugs" such as heroin, meth, and cocaine to increase
their effects.
Fentanyl is powerful and its use can cause confusion,
drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, changes in pupil
size, cold and clammy skin, coma, and respiratory failure,
leading to death. Two milligrams of fentanyl – small
enough to fit on the tip of a pencil – is a fatal dose.
Fentanyl is particularly dangerous for someone with a
low tolerance to opioids. Because of this, any drug that
is at risk for containing fentanyl (i.e., was not obtained
through a legitimate, personal prescription from a
medical professional), can be lethal.
Fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills are also a
growing concern for this reason. According to the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), criminal drug
networks are mass producing fake prescription pills
containing fentanyl that are made to look nearly
identical to real prescriptions, including oxycodone
(OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin),
alprazolam (Xanax), and stimulants like amphetamines
(Adderall, Ritalin).
Fentanyl-laced drugs and fake pills are not restricted
to one geographical area, nor do they discriminate
between rural, urban, and suburban areas – fentanyl is
a growing danger everywhere. In 2021, the DEA seized
more than 20.4 million fake prescription pills. In 2022, in
just over three months, they seized 10.2 million fake pills
throughout all 50 states.
Although there are slight visual differences between
manufactured and legitimate pills, there is no way
to know if a drug or pill has been laced with fentanyl
without testing them. Many users are not aware they
are using fentanyl and may not be until it's too late.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), between January 2021 and January
2022, 107,375 Americans died by drug overdose and
drug poisoning, with 67% involving synthetic opioids like
fentanyl.
The New Landscape of Drug Experimentation
For previous generations, experimenting with drugs
was a gradual process. Substances were generally less
accessible and less potent compared to today's drug
landscape, leaving individuals with more time between
doses to reflect and decide whether to stop or continue
using, or even try something stronger.
However, the growing prominence of undetectable
fentanyl-laced drugs has stripped many teens and
young adults of this reflection time. While some fentanyl-
involved overdoses occur due to already potent street
drugs being laced, some are caused by fake prescription
pills – pills that teens may have taken believing they were
legitimate and would have their intended effect.
Most misused prescription drugs fall under three
categories: opioids (medications used to relieve pain),
depressants (medications that slow brain activity,
relieve anxiety, or help someone sleep), and stimulants
(medications that increase attention and alertness).
According to the CDC's 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey,
16.8% of high school students took a prescription drug
without a doctor's prescription one or more times during
their life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
between January 2021 and January 2022, 107,375 Americans died by drug
overdose and drug poisoning, with 67% involving synthetic opioids like
fentanyl.
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