In July, SAMHSA
released an urgent warning for Physicians and Treatment Providers to be aware
of the new risk of illicit fentanyl-laced heroin and cocaine on the drug
market.
Recently, small clusters of
overdoses and overdose fatalities in a variety of communities, mostly in the
eastern United States have raised alarms.
Some of the dangers of Fentanyl are:
·
Fentanyl
amplifies the potency of heroin and cocaine, and even a small amount can result
in overdose or death.
·
The appearance of fentanyl analogues
occurs against the backdrop of increasing overdose fatalities due to high rates
of opioid prescribing and misuse, as well as individuals transitioning to
heroin as prescription-pharmaceuticals becomes more restricted. Whether the
fentanyl analogues persist and spread or not, the situation with regard to
opioid overdose and fatalities is desperate.
·
The CDC Vital Signs released a July
2013 report that noted that although more men die from prescription painkiller
overdoses nationally, the gap between men and women is closing. The number of
prescription painkiller overdose deaths increased fivefold among women between
1999 and 2010.
1 comment:
This is just scary. There's enough to worry about when you're loved one is doing heroin, but have to worry that they may get ahold of dope that laced with more dangerous chemicals is just insane. Thanks for the heads up.
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