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What Are Opioids? What Are They Used For In Medicine?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used to treat severe pain, often in patients who are already taking other opioids. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and is highly addictive. Because of its potency and potential for abuse, fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States, which means that it is illegal to possess or distribute without a prescription.
The amount of seized fentanyl in Oregon’s high intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTA) increased from 690 dosage units (counterfeit pills) in 2018 to more than 2 million in 2022. Fentanyl has now surpassed methamphetamine as the most frequent drug involved in overdose deaths in Oregon. The presence of fentanyl is causing an increased rate of overdose and death. The landscape of overdose deaths no longer primarily affects those who are using substances regularly.
- They also predict it may become a fixture in medicine cabinets, as more people realize that illicit party drugs like cocaine and counterfeit Xanax pills may be tainted with deadly fentanyl, an opioid.
- One vial of 1Â mg/mL fentanyl standard in methanol was utilized for fentanyl analysis.
- Whatever container you use, only use about a half (1/2) a shot glass of water (15mL).
- Xylazine can be life-threatening and is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl.
- Opioid use disorder is when people take more of the drug and this opioid use starts causing problems, distress or harm.
Buying Fentanyl Without a Prescription
Test For Fentanyl
Despite its illegal status, fentanyl is sometimes sold on the black market or online. However, it is important to note that buying fentanyl without a prescription is illegal and can result in serious consequences, including fines and imprisonment. It is also extremely dangerous to use fentanyl without a doctor’s supervision, as it can easily lead to overdose and death.
Fentanyl Overdose
How Do I Use Fentanyl Test Strips?
Fentanyl overdoses have become a major public health concern in recent years. In 2020, more than 93,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in more than two-thirds of those deaths. Fentanyl overdoses can be reversed with the drug naloxone, but it is important to act quickly and call 911 if you suspect someone has overdosed on fentanyl.
Until recently, naloxone has largely been used by health care providers, emergency responders, police, and outreach workers. Laws and rules around how it could be obtained varied by state. Sometimes, individuals would fill a prescription for it at a pharmacy, but they could often obtain it for free from a local health or harm reduction organization or emergency department. Health departments and community-based organizations across the country have been stepping up to respond to the opioid crisis. This project aimed to identify a potential tool they can use to prevent overdose deaths and engage with people who use opioids to help them move toward addiction treatment and other services.
Local Health Services/Offices
Getting Help for Fentanyl Addiction
Now, in 2020, we are in what is being called the 4th wave of the opioid crisis—stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine or depressants like benzodiazepines combined with opioids [4,5,6,7]. Syringe service programs provide support, information, naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies to people who use drugs, including people who take pills, smoke, inject, and more. Please contact your local public health authority (link) to learn more about services nearest to you. Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs that come in powder form. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids such as oxycodone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl addiction, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. There are many resources available to help you on the road to recovery, including:
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs
- Support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous
- Medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone or buprenorphine
- Counseling and therapy
Be aware that it may take more than one dose of naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose. A prescription is no longer required to obtain nasal naloxone spray. Over-the-counter (OTC) NARCAN®, a name brand naloxone 4mg nasal spray product, is now available for purchase in stores and through reputable online retailers. Stores may keep OTC Narcan® with other OTC medications for sale or they may keep it behind the pharmacy counter. Talk with your local pharmacist about OTC naloxone if you are unable to find it.
It arrives in many stores next week, no prescription necessary. In 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released a standing order, which allows anyone to visit a pharmacy and receive Naloxone without a prescription. The medication may not be available for same-day pickup, but it can often be ordered and available within a day or two. If a pharmacy does not have it in stock, request that it be ordered or ask if another location has it in stock. Report any issues with getting naloxone at your pharmacy here. We partner with a number of local organizations to make sure Naloxone and test strips are available city-wide.
Remember, fentanyl is a dangerous drug that should only be used under the supervision of a medical professional. If you are struggling with addiction, do not hesitate to reach out for help.
