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Why Do Drug Dealers Use Fentanyl? Aren’t They Worried About Killing Their Customers?
- Fentanyl is often administered to patients—many of whom have suffered a traumatic injury or are terminally ill—to relieve severe pain.
- In some patients, particularly at high doses, chronic use of fentanyl can worsen pain.
- Although there have been media reports of fentanyl being directly shipped via package delivery services, most of the fentanyl in the US is reportedly coming from Mexico via regular criminal drug shipment routes.
- From Xanax to cocaine, drugs or counterfeit pills purchased in nonmedical settings may contain life-threatening amounts of fentanyl.
Do People Buy Fentanyl?
Help For First Responders And Health Care Workers
Health Care Facility Licenses
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cronin told us that Gordon Jin would often slip fentanyl past U.S. Customs by shipping it to a co-conspirator in the United States posing as a legitimate chemical company. Shipments between chemical companies weren’t considered suspicious. But inside, there would be as many as 50 individual drug packages each addressed to the person who’d ordered them. I was just meeting with three families before our convening, who each suffered the loss of a child due to overdose and due to fentanyl. Grace Deng joined the Washington State Standard shortly after graduating from Northwestern University in June 2023.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II prescription drug, and it is typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. However, the drug is also illegally manufactured and distributed, and it is often mixed with other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
There can also be false positives (showing that fentanyl is present when it really isn’t). The process of testing methamphetamine is different than testing opioids and uses more water. Among the U.S. cities with the highest number of people who use heroin, Baltimore is taking novel steps to address the opioid epidemic within its boundaries. The city’s health department has actively worked to get naloxone, the opioid-overdose reversal medication, into the hands of people who can use it to save lives, and to expand access to addiction treatment.
Because only a few grains is enough to kill, fentanyl is causing high rates of overdose and overdose deaths. Fentanyl is sold as a powder or a pill, or is cut into (mixed with) drugs such as heroin or cocaine. This type of fentanyl is usually sold as another substance, so people swallow, snort or inject it without realizing. Many overdoses have occurred because people did not know that what they were taking was contaminated with fentanyl. Fentanyl is the main driver of opioid overdose deaths in Washington state. 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.
But it is one thing to test samples in a laboratory, using known spectra libraries and large instruments. The testing process also takes time—too much time for a field setting. Dogs with their keen sense of smell have been trained for a variety of U.S. security and emergency response settings for more than 50 years. The first drug-sniffing dogs were put into service in the mid-1960s and are now regularly seen in cargo terminals, airports, mail delivery and sorting centers, and even schools. Campaign materials have been sent out to local municipalities, schools, and other organizations who can extend the reach of the campaign’s message even further. A 30-second PSA was created to start airing on airwaves and social platforms to have an even greater impact.
Who Buys Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is often bought by people who are struggling with addiction to opioids. The drug is cheap and widely available, making it an attractive option for those who are unable to obtain prescription opioids or who are seeking a more intense high. Fentanyl is also sometimes bought by people who are unaware that it is present in the drugs they are taking, as it is often mixed with other substances without the user’s knowledge.
How Is Fentanyl Sold?
Fentanyl is typically sold in powder form, but it can also be found in pill or patch form. It is often sold on the street in small bags or packets, and it is sometimes sold under the names “China White,” “Tango best onion links and Cash,” and “Goodfella.” Fentanyl can also be purchased online from illegal drug markets, where it is often marketed as a safer alternative to heroin or as a way to enhance the effects of other drugs.
Is It Legal to Buy Fentanyl?
No, it is not legal to buy fentanyl for recreational use. Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it has a high potential for abuse and is subject to strict regulations. It is illegal to possess, sell, or distribute fentanyl without a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
What Are the Risks of Buying Fentanyl?
There are many risks associated with buying fentanyl. Because the drug is often mixed with other substances, it is difficult to know exactly what you are getting when you buy it. This can lead to overdose, as users may unknowingly take a higher dose than they intended. Fentanyl is also highly addictive, and users may quickly develop a tolerance to the drug, leading to increased use and the risk of overdose.
Additionally, buying fentanyl from illegal sources can be dangerous, as there is no way to know the quality or purity of the drug. It may be cut with other substances, such as fentanyl analogs or other opioids, which can increase the risk of overdose. It is also possible to be arrested for buying or possessing fentanyl, as it is a controlled substance.
FAQs
- Is fentanyl more potent than heroin? Yes, dark web search engine onion fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin.
- Can fentanyl be absorbed through the skin? Yes, fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin, which is darknet websites why it is often sold in patch form. It can also be absorbed through mucous membranes, such as the nose and mouth.
- How is fentanyl detected in a drug test? Fentanyl can be detected in a drug test using a variety of methods, including dark market url urine, blood, and hair testing. The specific method used will depend on the type of test being conducted and the reason for the test.
In conclusion, while fentanyl is a powerful painkiller when used as prescribed, it is also a highly addictive and dangerous drug when used recreationally. It is illegal to buy fentanyl without a valid prescription, and doing so can lead to serious health risks, including overdose and addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to fentanyl or other opioids, it is important to seek help from a licensed healthcare provider or a treatment center.
How many fentanyl deaths in 2023?
In 2023 the overdose death rate topped 112,000 in a 12 month period for the first time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Who makes Suboxone?
Brand-name Suboxone products are made and distributed by an American company: Indivior. This organization is tightly focused on addictions and mental health disorders, so they may not be familiar to everyone in the United States. But the work the company does has the potential to change thousands of lives every year.