Fentanyl Spreading into the Illicit Drug Market
The Office of National Statistics reports that 3,744 people were killed by drug poisoning in 2016.
Contributing to half this number are the people who have died from opiates, including those laced with fentanyl. Authorities have been discovering heroin mixed with this deadly drug, and it is now cropping up in more areas. Fentanyl has been in the news in the US and Canada for the past few years and is of major concern to those addressing the opioid epidemic in these countries. While fentanyl is not new to the UK, this year we are seeing a sharp increase in fentanyl-related overdoses in several counties.
Fentanyl Linked to Over 60 Deaths So Far This Year
A rash of incidents this past year has raised an alert amongst authorities. One example being the four people who died in South Yorkshire last spring, with another two deaths following the next day in West Yorkshire. According to a representative from Public Health England, the majority of overdoses involving fentanyl and carfentanyl are in the Humber and Yorkshire region. The National Crime Agency has reported that fentanyl has been linked to at least 60 deaths in the UK since December of 2016.
Why Traffickers are Pushing Fentanyl
The early reports were of fentanyl being mixed with heroin in order to cut costs for the dealer and provide a stronger high for their customers. More recently fentanyl is being found in cocaine supplies, as well as MDMA, marijuana and Xanax obtained on the street. Dealers are a far cry from a competent or caring pharmacist, and so there is no way to predict which batch could contain a deadly dose.
Another danger is that fentanyl comes in several forms which vary hugely in their effects and toxicity. Fentanyl, while highly toxic, is 50-100 times more potent than heroin or morphine, which means just 0.0002g of the drug could be fatal. The analogue Carfentanyl can be up to 10,000 times more potent than heroin, meaning just 0.00002g could be a lethal dose.
The only way to ensure someone is safe from this threat is sobriety. At Narconon UK we have helped countless individuals overcome addiction to opioids and other drugs. At first, the addict may feel it is hopeless to attempt a life without drugs, but after recovering from the toxic effects of these drugs and building a new set of life skills, they can truly begin a new drug or alcohol-free life.
When someone is abusing opiates, the time to act is now, as their next dose could be fatal. Take the time to assist the addicted person in getting the help they need. The actions you take could very well save a life.