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If you cannot test ten milligrams, at least test a few grains. The tests are highly sensitive, so a minimal amount is needed to detect the presence of fentanyl. Add water to the container and mix it with your drugs, using the same drug-to-water ratio and following the same steps mentioned previously. Opioid prescribing by physicians decreased for the 13th consecutive year, but overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured substances continue to increase.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through prescription.
Illegal Fentanyl Sales
Despite its legal status, fentanyl is often sold illegally on the street. It is commonly mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, to increase their potency and profitability. This illegal fentanyl is often manufactured in clandestine labs and can be highly dangerous, as the potency can vary greatly and it is easy to overdose.
Drugs & Supplements
Illegal fentanyl can be purchased on the street from drug dealers, or through online marketplaces on the dark web. These online marketplaces operate outside of the traditional internet and require special software to access. They often sell a variety of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, and may use cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
Dangers of Buying Fentanyl Illegally
One unanticipated theme, recognizing an FCS overdose, is also presented here. In 2020, there were 812 overdose deaths in Wisconsin where illegally manufactured fentanyl was considered to be probable or suspected in contributing cause of death. Recognizing the value of fentanyl test strips in reducing the harms of drug use, Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation in March to allow the test strips to be used in Wisconsin. Look for information on your state or local health department’s website or ask your healthcare provider for treatment and referral services available in your area.
Harm Reduction Is Part Of The Treatment Continuum
Buying fentanyl illegally is extremely dangerous and can result in serious health consequences, including overdose and death. It is also illegal and can result in criminal charges. Fentanyl is a highly potent drug, and even a small amount can be lethal. It is also easy to accidentally ingest fentanyl if it is mixed with other drugs, as the user may not be aware of its presence.
County experienced 1,300 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020. “Our test strips are such a great tool for engaging people who use substances into our programing so that then we can support them with other aspects of their health, especially around HIV and Hep C,” he said. The Fulton County Board of Health is making sure people who use drugs can do so as safely as possible by getting test kits for fentanyl. As our county vice agents fight back against what’s being sold on the streets, fentanyl patch users can take extra safety measures as well.
Fentanyl
Legal Fentanyl Sales
- Incarceration is also common among communities of color, particularly Black people.
- Small variations in the quantity or quality of fentanyl in a fake prescription pill can accidentally create a lethal dosage.
- Fentanyl test strips detect the presence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine, in unregulated injectable drugs, powders and pills.
- The process of testing methamphetamine is different than testing opioids and uses more water.
- Fentanyl has become more available than other opioids for illicit use and is 100 times more potent than morphine with increasingly higher deaths than for all other opioids.
Overdose prevention efforts will be most successful if they work to address and reduce these barriers as complementary actions to making test strips available. Future research on the use of fentanyl test strips by people who use drugs should assess how positive or negative test results influence subsequent actions and drug use. One unanticipated finding was the nearly universal concern about participant ability, despite recently receiving OEND training, to recognize an FCS overdose in someone else.
Fentanyl is available through prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. It is typically used to treat severe pain, such as that experienced after surgery or in cancer patients. Fentanyl is available in a variety of forms, including transdermal patches, lozenges, and injectable solutions.
If you have a prescription for fentanyl, you can purchase it from a licensed pharmacy. It is important to only take fentanyl as directed by your healthcare provider, as it is a highly potent drug and can be dangerous if misused.
Dangers of Misusing Prescription Fentanyl
Misusing prescription fentanyl is also dangerous and can result in serious health consequences, including overdose and death. It is important to only take fentanyl as directed by your healthcare provider and to follow all storage and disposal instructions carefully. If you no longer need your prescription fentanyl, it is important to dispose of it properly to prevent others from accidentally ingesting it.
Conclusion
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is highly potent and can be dangerous if misused. It is available through prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, but is also often sold illegally on the street. Buying fentanyl illegally is extremely dangerous and can result in serious health consequences, including overdose and death. It is important to only take fentanyl as directed by your healthcare provider and to follow all storage and disposal instructions carefully.
