September 1, 2016 at 4:43 p.m.
Fentanyl use has been on the rise
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
Heroin use is a well-known epidemic in the entire nation.
What is more powerful and less spoken of, however, is Fentanyl. A Schedule II drug manufactured and brought into the U.S. from Mexico and China, it is 25 to 50 times stronger than heroin and sometimes sold in white powder heroin for a stronger drug. Similar to morphine, it’s commonly used to treat chronic pain; however, it’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl comes in the form of a tablet, lozenge, patch or film. Emerging in the illicit drug market is non-pharmaceutical Fentanyl, which can be snorted, injected or swallowed.
From 2013 to 2014, the number of searches and seizures conducted by law enforcement resulting in positive tests for Fentanyl skyrocketed by 400 percent. What’s more concerning is that 80 percent of those seizures containing Fentanyl took place in Midwestern states, including Indiana and Ohio. Because Fentanyl is deadly in small amounts and can be accidentally inhaled or absorbed through the skin, it is also dangerous to law enforcement officers who seize items containing the drug.
There were more than 700 overdoses from Fentanyl between 2013 and 2014, and that number is rising.
Because it’s mixed with white powder heroin, the areas most impacted are the Eastern U.S. are states report more white powder heroin overdoses.
The newest trend that has resulted in increased numbers of overdoses is the manufacturing of false prescriptions for pain and anxiety medications that are made with Fentanyl. These counterfeit pills are disguised to look like Percocet, Xanax or other related prescriptions, but are cheaper because of low-cost manufacturing operations.
Because the manufacturing and purchasing of drugs containing Fentanyl is inexpensive, the DEA suspects the use of Fentanyl to increase over time. Likewise, overdoses from counterfeit drugs containing Fentanyl will increase given that users commonly take inaccurate doses of the imitation prescriptions. It is important to exercise extreme caution surrounding prescription pill use and only use pills prescribed to you and as directed by a doctor.
If this or similar issues are of interest to you please attend the next Jay County Drug Coalition meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at East Jay Middle School.
Christina Picklesimon
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition Member
Heroin use is a well-known epidemic in the entire nation.
What is more powerful and less spoken of, however, is Fentanyl. A Schedule II drug manufactured and brought into the U.S. from Mexico and China, it is 25 to 50 times stronger than heroin and sometimes sold in white powder heroin for a stronger drug. Similar to morphine, it’s commonly used to treat chronic pain; however, it’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl comes in the form of a tablet, lozenge, patch or film. Emerging in the illicit drug market is non-pharmaceutical Fentanyl, which can be snorted, injected or swallowed.
From 2013 to 2014, the number of searches and seizures conducted by law enforcement resulting in positive tests for Fentanyl skyrocketed by 400 percent. What’s more concerning is that 80 percent of those seizures containing Fentanyl took place in Midwestern states, including Indiana and Ohio. Because Fentanyl is deadly in small amounts and can be accidentally inhaled or absorbed through the skin, it is also dangerous to law enforcement officers who seize items containing the drug.
There were more than 700 overdoses from Fentanyl between 2013 and 2014, and that number is rising.
Because it’s mixed with white powder heroin, the areas most impacted are the Eastern U.S. are states report more white powder heroin overdoses.
The newest trend that has resulted in increased numbers of overdoses is the manufacturing of false prescriptions for pain and anxiety medications that are made with Fentanyl. These counterfeit pills are disguised to look like Percocet, Xanax or other related prescriptions, but are cheaper because of low-cost manufacturing operations.
Because the manufacturing and purchasing of drugs containing Fentanyl is inexpensive, the DEA suspects the use of Fentanyl to increase over time. Likewise, overdoses from counterfeit drugs containing Fentanyl will increase given that users commonly take inaccurate doses of the imitation prescriptions. It is important to exercise extreme caution surrounding prescription pill use and only use pills prescribed to you and as directed by a doctor.
If this or similar issues are of interest to you please attend the next Jay County Drug Coalition meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at East Jay Middle School.
Christina Picklesimon
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition Member
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