Ohio officials warn that six different strains of the deadly fentanyl are circulating in the state’s illegal drug supply.
The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center issued an alert Friday, saying the synthetic opioid is circulating in the state in the form of glue, black tar, powder, tablets, chalk and rocks.
Fentanyl fueled the US drug crisis. Originally developed for hospitals, it is now incorporated into other medications so that those who overdose often do not know they are taking it.
The Ohio Department of Health estimates that illegal fentanyl was involved in 81 percent of overdoses in the state in 2020. In the same year, the number of deaths due to the drug increased by 32 percent.
The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center has identified six forms of fentanyl in the state
The number of deaths due to fentanyl in the US increased sharply in the 2010s. At the start of the decade, 2,666 Americans died of a fentanyl overdose. That number rose to 19,413 in 2016. Covid worsened the situation, with a record 72,484 deaths in 2021
The Ohio Department of Health is noting a dramatic increase in deaths from fentanyl. In 2020 alone, the drug was involved in 81 percent of overdose deaths
State officials have warned of six types of fentanyl found locally.
The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) released a bulletin Friday saying the variety of fentanyl in the state includes powder, tablets, chalk, rock, black tar and glue.
The agency said that while it has not yet been found in the state, other forms of fentanyl exist, such as pellets, popcorn, Lego blocks, puzzle pieces and confetti tablets.
ONIC advised anyone involved in drug activity to exercise caution as fentanyl is difficult to identify due to the variety of forms it comes in.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine.
The pharmaceutical version was invented in the USA in 1959 as a cheaper alternative to other painkillers. It has been used for both severe pain and incurable diseases such as cancer.
Fentanyl’s Deadly Grip on America: Cheap Supply of Synthetic Opioids
Drugs are blamed for turning parts of many once-thriving American cities into “zombie lands.”
Three chemicals, benzylfentanyl, 4-anilinepiperidine and norfentanil, are considered by the DEA to be precursors to fentanyl – meaning they are key ingredients in the manufacture of the drug.
It binds to opioid receptors in a person’s nervous system, which are responsible for making the body feel comfortable when activated.
Now it is used in street drugs.
It takes a negligible dose of fentanyl to cause a fatal overdose. Just two milligrams, the equivalent of five grains of salt, is enough to cause death.
Because it is included in other popular medicines, many people who die of an overdose do not know they are taking fentanyl.
The drug also takes various forms, including those that look like chalk, rocks, and even chewing gum.
The ONIC report also warns about fentanyl mixed with black tar heroin.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency has called fentanyl the “deadliest drug in this country.”
During a Senate hearing in March, Alejandro Mayorkas of the US Department of Homeland Security said fentanyl would be linked to more than 75,000 deaths by 2022, which equates to 1,500 deaths per week.
In 2010, that number was just 2,666, according to the CDC.
The NIH estimated the number of fentanyl-related deaths among adolescents between 2019 and 2021 at 182 percent.
Mr Mayorkas said fentanyl was the “biggest challenge for the US as a country”.
The drug has become the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49. It has also caused the average life expectancy in the US to drop from 78.8 in 2019 to 76.4 in 2021. Experts have described this decline as “dramatic” and “significant”.
The drug is partly to blame for America’s sharp drop in life expectancy over the past three years. It’s now in everything from cocaine to Molly to street benzodiazepines like Xanax.
Fentanyl was first produced in India and China. Precursor chemicals and powders were shipped to North America. Now labs in Mexico are mixing these chemicals into fake pills and smuggling them into the US.
The fentanyl crisis has contributed to the sharp decline in American life expectancy in recent years. Americans now live an average of 76.4 years, compared to 78.8 years in 2019. In the UK, which like the US has suffered from the Covid pandemic but has not experienced a fentanyl crisis, life expectancy is slightly lower at 81 .3 years in 2019 to 81.52 years in 2021.
The drug was initially manufactured in India and China and shipped to recipients in North America. Since then, makeshift laboratories have sprung up in Mexico to receive the precursor chemicals from Asia, mix them or crush them into pills, and smuggle them into the United States
Customs and Border Protection seized a record nearly 15,000 pounds of fentanyl last year. More than 90 percent of the arrests occurred at ports of entry along the Mexican border.
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is the main treatment for fentanyl overdose. It has an extremely high success rate.
A study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that 94 percent of people who received naloxone survived their overdose.
In a Harm Reduction Journal study, more than 90 percent of participants feared that a single box of Narcan would not be enough for a successful turnaround. However, 95 percent of overdose cases were prevented.
It was approved for over-the-counter use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month, meaning it will be available everywhere — from vending machines to big department stores — by the end of summer.
The Narcan manufacturer did not give an exact price for the drug, but estimates range from $22 to $141, depending on location and insurance. It can be sold in packs of one or two.
In the 12 months ending August 2022, emergency services nationwide responded to 396,312 activations involving Narcan.
Narcan still generates costs in many places. It may be covered by insurance, but coverage depends on the specific plan.
You may need pre-approval before insurance will cover it.
Although it won’t be available over the counter until late summer, it can be purchased at pharmacies in all 50 states.
Coupons and Narcan dispensers may be used depending on insurance coverage.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
