Are you concerned about the effects of fentanyl?
If you’re reading this, you likely understand the risks associated with fentanyl. Please consider sharing this article or other relevant information about fentanyl with someone in your family, particularly teens or young adults, to ensure parents are better informed.
Unfortunately, fentanyl use is currently endangering our youth.
It deeply saddens me to hear about young individuals, in the prime of their lives, whose futures are cut short due to a tragic error.
Did you know that fentanyl poisoning is the primary cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45? It surpasses the mortality rates associated with COVID-19, car accidents, and suicide.
“Kids today should be learning from their mistakes, not dying from them.” ~ Derek Maltz, former director of DEA Special Operations
The DEA Fact Sheet states, “Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration for pain management and anesthesia. It is about 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin as a pain reliever.”
Possible side effects of fentanyl include:
- intense happiness
- calmness
- sleepiness
- lightheadedness
- intense pleasure
- relief from pain
- upset stomach
- confusion
- constipation
- sedation
- nausea
- urinary retention
- breathing difficulties
- constricted pupils
- reduced breathing
- loss of consciousness
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that “An overdose happens when a drug causes serious and potentially life-threatening effects. In fentanyl overdoses, breathing may slow down or stop, reducing the oxygen supply to the brain – a condition known as hypoxia. This can lead to coma, irreversible brain injury, or even death.”
There have been 100,000 drug-related overdoses in the past year.
A case in point is Alexandra Capelouto, a 20-year-old college student who unknowingly bought a fake Oxycodone pill from a dealer on Snapchat.
Another tragic story is of Eli Weinstock, who died from an accidental fentanyl overdose. You can hear more about this in my interview with Dr. Beth Weinstock, Eli’s mother.
A recent study indicates that friends and families are mourning an aggregate of over a million years due to the overdose deaths of young individuals in recent years.
In a report published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at The Ohio State University discovered that between 2015 and 2019, adolescents and teenagers ages 10 to 19 lost nearly 200,000 years of life due to unintentional drug overdoses. When expanded to include those aged 10 to 24, this number soared to over 1.25 million years lost.
The DEA’s slogan is One Pill Can Kill.
Here’s what you need to know to keep your children safe.
Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II narcotic under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Between 2012 and 2018, overdose deaths involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids rose sharply each year.
People can use fentanyl in various ways, including injection, snorting, smoking, or consuming it as pills or tablets, as well as soaking it onto blotter paper.
Elizabeth Vargas hosted a Q&A with acclaimed author and journalist Sam Quinones on her Heart of the Matter podcast. You can listen to the episode here.
Potential overdose effects include:
- extreme drowsiness
- changes in pupillary size
- cold, sweaty skin
- bluish skin color (cyanosis)
- coma
- respiratory failure leading to death
A combination of coma, pinpoint pupils, and slowed breathing is a strong indication of opioid poisoning.
Some common street names for fentanyl include Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Jackpot, King Ivory, Murder 8, and Tango & Cash.
Insights about fentanyl
A recent episode of the Phil in the Blanks podcast discusses the serious drug crisis caused by both authentic and counterfeit substances laced with dangerous amounts of fentanyl. Derek Maltz, former director of DEA Special Operations, and Tim Mackey, CEO of S-3 Research, were featured guests. It is noteworthy that fentanyl is readily available on the streets and through social media, posing a threat to our youth.
According to Derek Maltz, law enforcement observations include:
- Millions of fake pills are being seized, and over 40% contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.
- In Phoenix, Arizona, the DEA has confiscated no counterfeit pills.
- In recent investigations into counterfeit pills, the Phoenix DEA seized more than 10 million fake medications last year alone. Their lab indicates that 40% of the tested pills contain doses of fentanyl that could be fatal.
- Fentanyl is between 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and is often mixed in with other drugs. Alarmingly, 40% of these substances may contain dangerous amounts.
- At the border last year, the DDP intercepted 11,201 pounds of fentanyl, representing a staggering 390% increase since 2018. The DEA, alongside its partners, removed over 20 million counterfeit pills from circulation in the U.S. and confiscated 15,000 pounds of fentanyl.
- As of December 2021, the amount of fentanyl seized is sufficient to potentially kill every person in America!
- These statistics are alarming, and it’s believed that only around 10% of the total fentanyl supply has been confiscated.
- In San Diego, fentanyl-related deaths surged by 1300% from 2016 to 2020. Orange County’s sheriff’s department reported a 1,067% increase in fentanyl fatalities. In Franklin County, Ohio, 86% of drug-related deaths were linked to fentanyl through the third quarter of 2020.
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Related article: 20 Facts Everyone Should Know About Fentanyl
Social Media
A major issue is that teenagers can easily buy these drugs through social media platforms. While there are attempts to regulate this, progress is still slow.
By mid-2021, there were 90 reported online drug cases, with around 49 of them directly linked to fatalities.
“Unless the tech industry collectively tackles this issue, we won’t make any real progress.” ~ Tim Mackey
We need a unified effort to tackle this crisis in order to reduce the number of deaths. This requires resources, people, and funding. Regardless of whether your child is struggling, we should all be concerned about the pressing issues that threaten our youth.
It’s crucial to inform your children that purchasing drugs from friends or unknown sources can lead to fatal consequences.
Parents should engage in ongoing conversations with their kids about drugs, even if they suspect no substance abuse. It’s vital to discuss the risks associated with fentanyl without delay.
I challenge you to share this article or other resources regarding the dangers of fentanyl use with five families that have teens or young adults. Highlight how it can be present in any drug your child might encounter and the potential fatal risks.
Here’s a suggestion for what you could say:
“I wanted to share an article with you to make you aware of the dangers of fentanyl. Please have ongoing dialogues with your son or daughter to ensure their safety, as purchasing pills or other drugs from friends or unknown sources could be literally life-threatening. Please consider sharing this article with other families who have teens or young adults. Thank you!”
In Summary
Fentanyl has infiltrated not only the United States but also other nations, causing the deaths of countless young individuals. Fentanyl poisoning is currently the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 45.
It is extremely likely that any pill or street drug available nowadays could contain fentanyl. Despite some assistance from social media firms, it seems they aren’t doing enough to solve this issue.
Finally, keep the lines of communication open with your child. Whether they are in middle school, high school, or college, they must clearly understand the dangers associated with fentanyl.
Help spread awareness to save lives. Act today.
Thank you for your time. Explore the various resources available to assist you if you’re feeling concerned about your son or daughter.
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