After Heroin, Fentanyl Emerges as Key Culprit Behind US Drug Overdose Deaths

1. After Heroin, Fentanyl Emerges as Key Culprit Behind US After Heroin, Fentanyl Emerges as Key Culprit Behind US Drug Overdose Deaths Drug Overdose Deaths Despite the terrifying side effects of drugs, their abuse continues to grow with time. One can understand the growing menace of drugs by the fact that the number of overdose deaths has increased to an unimaginable extent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes the annual data for drug-related deaths in December every year. Since verifying drug overdose deaths is a lengthy process, data of a particular year is released at the end of the following year. Although the U.S. government does not track overdose deaths for every drug, the CDC does collect data on commonly abused drugs. According to the data released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there was a 2.2-fold increase in the total number of drug overdose deaths from 2002 to 2015. In a short span, the rate of drug overdose deaths increased by leaps and bounds in the U.S. As a result, it has emerged as the leading cause of deaths among the Americans under 50. The overdose deaths shot from 16,849 in 1999 to 52,404 in 2015. What is extremely concerning is that these figures continue to rise every year. The preliminary data collected by the New York Times suggests that the death toll due to drug overdose was over 59,000 in 2016. The daily has projected it as the largest annual jump reported in the U.S. number of drug Of the many factors, the marked rise in prescription drugs has been the driving force behind the menace of overdose deaths in the U.S. Illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine accounted for over 40 percent of the total overdose deaths in 2015. To make matters worse, the drug culture in recent years has witnessed a surge of deadlier and potent drugs, such as synthetic opioids, fentanyl, carfentanil, etc. As these drugs are being sold in different forms, the chances of stumbling into drug abuse has risen massively. Fentanyl in the streets is disguised as heroin and also seen in counterfeit prescription drugs. In recent years, fentanyl was found in many cases of cocaine-related overdoses and drug busts. Carfentanil, another analog of fentanyl, is said to be 5,000 times stronger than heroin and even a few grains of the drug have the potential to cause a deadly overdose. Challenges in reversing fentanyl overdose One of the primary reasons for the alarming growth in opioid crisis has been the influx of fentanyl that has life-threatening implications. It is so lethal that even an accidental exposure to the drug can www.sovtexas.com

2. increase the chances of an overdose. Ever since 2013, law enforcement agencies are coming across more number of cases with the traces of fentanyl. Considering the above revelations, the need of the hour is to understand the challenges posed by fentanyl. One of the major challenges confronting treating a person who has overdosed on fentanyl is the increased chances of accidental exposure to this lethal drug. The chances of exposure are so high that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had to issue an urgent warning cautioning law enforcement agencies and first responders to undertake adequate safety measures, such as gloves, masks, etc., while visiting the drug scene. First responders, such as firefighters, police and emergency medical services (EMS), play an important role in assuring that a drug overdose case does not take a turn for the worse. However, the high risk of exposure can cause many obstacles in recovering a patient from the state of overdose. Secondly, those equipped with the opioid antagonist naloxone can successfully reverse the effects of prescription drugs and opioids with one or two shots. However, more shots of naloxone may be required to bring a person back in the case of fentanyl. When first responders armed with naloxone tubes, auto injectors and nasal sprays come to the aid of fentanyl or carfentanil overdose victims, they may need to administer over 10 shots of the antagonist, with the likelihood of not witnessing positive results sometimes. Signs of impending disaster When a new batch of fentanyl and carfentanil hits a particular area, it is shortly followed by a number of distress calls related to an overdose. For example, when a batch of carfentanil arrived in Akron in 2016, 17 individuals overdosed and one died within a span of nine hours. Mass overdoses occur in the pattern of regional clusters that are not consistent in states, especially when heroin and cocaine are laced with deadly drugs. The reason why fentanyl and carfentanil are more pronounced in the east than the west is because the heroin found in the west is black compared to the white powdery heroin found in the east, which makes it easier to conceal the mix. The speculation of the rise in overdose deaths is truly alarming, especially when it suggests that it has yet to reach its zenith. If this becomes a reality, an onerous future lies ahead. It could very much mimic the 2016 drug deaths in Summit County. The county had to request refrigerated trailers on three different occasions to preserve bodies due to the lack of space in the morgues. Only this time, it could be on a much larger scale. Say no to drugs The opioid epidemic has been termed as the worst drug crisis of all time. Prescriptions medications and illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine are responsible for most of the overdose deaths witnessed annually. With the addition of the synthetic drug fentanyl, there has been an incredible increase in the number of drug overdose deaths. Sovereign Health of Texas understands the plight of someone who has developed an addiction to harmful substances despite the negative impact on his or her life. Our state-of-the-art detox treatment center is designed to support holistic recovery supplemented by evidence-based intervention plans. Call our 24/7 helpline number (866) 283-6305 to know more about our detox treatment center in Texas. www.sovtexas.com