What You Need to Know about Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids:

 By Partnership Parent Coach

Deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids (not including methadone), rose a staggering 72 percent from 2014 to 2015. Government agencies and officials are rightly concerned by what some are describing as the third wave of our ongoing opioid epidemic.

As a concerned parent, whose top priority is keeping your child safe — and alive — the following are the most important things to understand about fentanyl.
Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine.

It is a schedule II prescription drug typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic® and Sublimaze®.

It is relatively cheap to produce, increasing its presence in illicit street drugs.
Dealers use it to improve their bottom line. According to a report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, evidence suggests fentanyl is being pressed into pills resembling OxyContin, Xanax, hydrocodone and other sought-after drugs, and being cut into heroin and other street drugs. Someone buying illicit drugs may think they know what they’re getting, but there’s a real risk of it containing fentanyl, which can prove deadly.

Naloxone (Narcan) will work in case of overdose, but extra doses may be needed.

Because fentanyl is far more powerful than other opioids, the standard 1-2 doses of naloxone may not be enough. Calling 911 is the first step in responding to any overdose, but in the case of a fentanyl-related overdose the help of emergency responders, who will have more naloxone, is critical.
Even if someone could tell a product had been laced with fentanyl, it may not prevent their use.
Some individuals claim they can tell the difference between product that has been laced with fentanyl and that which hasn’t, but overdose statistics would say otherwise. Some harm reduction programs are offering test strips to determine whether heroin has been cut with fentanyl, but that knowledge may not be much of a deterrent to a loved one who just spent their last dollar to get high.
Getting a loved one into treatment is more critical than ever.

If you need help in determining a course of action, reach out to one of our parent counselors by calling 1-855-DRUGFREE. Learn more at http://drugfree.org.