The opioid crisis continues to devastate families as loved ones are being lost. Deaths from the opioid epidemic continue to rise. With people dying from fentanyl at unimaginable rates, it is clear why this drug has become a problem of epidemic proportions for Americans.
Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs like Xanax, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which means that users may not even know what they’re taking, thus making them much more likely candidates for the risks of addiction or death. Fentanyl is a cheap drug currently found in nearly every illicit drug supply across America, and it’s responsible for claiming the lives of Americans ages 18-45 years more than car accidents, suicide, or COVID-19.
Fentanyl Continues to Cross Our Borders
For the first time in U.S. history, federal law enforcement at the southern borders has intercepted more smuggled fentanyl than heroin over the last year. Not only were these seizures at an all-time high but so was the rise of people dying from drug overdoses related to this deadly product pushed by transnational criminal organizations. THIS FALL, a DEA investigation found direct links between Mexican groups and their production, with some coming into the USA via mail or with border-crossing migrants.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) points to fentanyl as a primary reason for the spike in deaths, saying it’s being made across the Mexican border and turned into fake prescription pills by the cartels. The potent drug requires special protection for handling because its appearance can be so close that even law enforcement agents might mistake them as legitimate medicine if they aren’t careful while collecting samples from crime scenes or recovering physical evidence left behind at hospitals after patient visits end up poisoned with these dangerous concoctions.
The amounts of illegal narcotics, unreported currency, and weapons seized by U.S. Customs officers at the South Texas ports grew significantly in 2021, most notably due to a 1,066% increase in fentanyl seizures as well as a 98%. The Fiscal Year (which began October 1, 2020) saw cocaine seizure rates climb above half a million dollars per day on average.
Mexican cartels purchase the components for fentanyl from labs in Wuhan, China. The cartels will produce this synthetic drug and push it into our country- often making their profits laundered through U.S. banks before being sent back to Mexico or other nations around Latin America.
Drug Users are Unknowingly Buying Fentanyl
Drug users are unknowingly purchasing drugs from dealers who claim it is one thing, but those pills may be laced with fentanyl, a potentially life-threatening and powerful synthetic opioid. Users of this new epidemic will feel an overwhelming high that lasts only minutes before feeling worse than ever; some have even died due to using street versions carelessly made in labs with no care whatsoever for human life. Some believe that fentanyl deaths should be seen as mass murder and not unintentional overdoses.
How to Protect Yourself from a Fentanyl Overdose
A. Get Your Medications from A Legitimate Pharmacy.
If you are addicted to drugs and have a prescription, then buy pills from legitimate sources. Do not borrow a pill from a friend or someone you don’t know.
B. Have Naloxone (Narcan) Close at All Times.
Many people who use illegal substances cannot simply choose not to take them; the best thing one can do if faced with an accidental overdose is to have Narcan nasal spray in hand at all times.
C. Do Not Use Illicit Drugs Alone.
Having someone around in case of an overdose, ready to apply Narcan, is probably your best chance of survival.
D. Get Addiction Help Today!
The best way to prevent a tragic outcome is by not taking action. If you get treatment, you won’t need to be out there putting yourself at risk. If there was ever a good time in history to overcome an addiction to opioids, this time is right now!
Do Your Part. Stop the Silence
In 2020, Clare Waismann, Registered Addiction Specialist, SUD Certified Counselor, and Founder of Waismann Method Opioid Treatment and Domus Retreat started a campaign to #StopTheSilence. ” The media’s silence on the fentanyl overdose crisis is deafening. People continue to die at unimaginable rates. We as citizens can no longer keep silent about this deadly epidemic that has invaded every corner of our society. Every citizen has a duty and power over this issue by giving the voice for those who can no longer speak, for those who tragically died without warning. We must warn others about how fatal and widespread this drug has become. Let’s use our social reach to create awareness and save lives.” says Mrs. Waismann.
The latest drug to rise in popularity is threatening hundreds of thousands of lives, but its lethality can’t be measured by death alone. The tragic consequences of this overdose crisis will affect generations to come.
“We can do more, and we can do much better. We have the ability, and the resources to protect so many people, all we need is the right priorities.”
Get Treatment
The dangers of fentanyl are becoming more and more evident to those who live in the United States. The drug has become one of America’s most dangerous substances and often leads people down an addiction-filled path likely to result in death. When you’re addicted to fentanyl, quitting can be challenging, and the withdrawal symptoms are intense and sometimes unbearable if done alone. If you can, get professional help instead!
Addiction is not your fault, and it can happen to anyone. There are many options for drug treatment, but regardless of which one you choose, start the process now. Get the treatment you need so that addiction doesn’t take away what matters most – your life. Don’t become a fatality or a statistic! Life’s worth living.
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