How to Look Into Your Drugs for Fentanyl
Risks of Fentanyl-Laced Drugs
Fentanyl is a class of synthetic opioids 100 times stronger than morphine. Initially, it was made to be a potent prescription pain medication for post-surgery pain and cancer pain. It is now being illicitly manufactured to be used for lacing all types of street drugs. This illegal fentanyl is created with different potencies, and the presence of fentanyl in illicit drugs is causing a spike in unintentional drug overdoses.
When street drugs are laced with illegally manufactured fentanyl, there is no way of knowing how strong the batch is, and even the equivalent of a couple of grains of sand is enough to cause fatal overdoses. Fentanyl is less expensive than other opiates and much stronger, which makes it an attractive substance to cut a wide range of drugs to increase profits. However, drug dealers are unaware of the potency and unintentionally put deadly amounts into their drugs.
The presence of fentanyl can be found in all types of illicit drugs, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and weed. Drug users are unaware their drug supply is laced with lethal amounts of fentanyl, which causes an accidental opioid overdose or overdose death. However, test strips are available for detecting fentanyl in a drug supply used for overdose prevention.
Fentanyl Test Strips
Fentanyl test strips are inexpensive, simple, and evidence-based methods of preventing fentanyl overdoses. Fentanyl test strips were created to detect fentanyl in urine but can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in a drug supply within minutes. They cost about a dollar each and can be found online at dancesafe.org and Amazon. Some local health departments, syringe services programs, and other community-based organizations may offer them free.
The single-use strips are simple. People who use drugs simply dip the strip into water containing a small drug sample mixed in well and after a few minutes, get the result. A single red line indicates the street drugs are positive for fentanyl or fentanyl analogs, and two red lines mean it is negative. It does not indicate how much of the drug is present, but it can help drug users know what to do next, whether to throw away that batch, use fewer amounts, or not use that drug dealer again.
How to Prevent Fentanyl Overdose
Fentanyl test strips empower people and save lives. They are harm reduction practices that help prevent unintentional exposure to fentanyl and accidental opioid overdose. People who use drugs can be aware of the presence of opioid fentanyl and make smarter choices to prevent unintentional overdose deaths.
Another way to help prevent overdoses is carrying Naloxone or Narcan, which are medicines that rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. There are several ways to obtain Naloxone, including a prescription from your doctor. However, most states can get Naloxone without a prescription or at a community-based naloxone program and most syringe services programs.
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Novo Detox Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose Treatment
Opioid use disorder is a chronic, complex disorder requiring comprehensive addiction treatment, starting with medical detox for best results. Novo Detox in Los Angeles provides drug detox, which can help anyone safely and comfortably go through opioid withdrawals. If you or someone you love has survived an opioid overdose, the time to get help is now. This process is your second chance at life, and there are addiction treatment programs at Novo Detox that can help overcome the powerful grip of illicit drug addiction.
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