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Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is at least 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin, already a highly potent opioid. Due to its extreme potency, fentanyl can cause death within minutes, especially for individuals, particularly teenagers, who have no prior exposure to opioids and thus have no tolerance built up. The risk is further heightened when fentanyl is mixed with other substances.
Synthetic fentanyl is synthesized quickly by drug cartels in makeshift labs, unlike the regulated and accurately dosed pharmaceutical labs. Often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, illicit fentanyl poses a significant risk due to mixed drug use, complicating treatment in emergency rooms.
Producers of illicit drugs have shifted from plant-based products like heroin to synthetic chemicals like fentanyl due to its profitability. Fentanyl's potency means even minuscule amounts, equivalent to a grain of sand or the tip of a pencil, can be lethal.
While fentanyl has been used safely in medical settings for pain management and anesthesia for over 50 years, there are significant differences when used illicitly. In medical settings, doses are carefully calibrated in micrograms and closely monitored for vital signs. Illicitly, doses are in milligrams, leading to uncontrolled consumption and fatal respiratory depression.
The lack of knowledge about the contents of illicit drugs poses a grave risk to users. It's essential to recognize that even the first time using could be the last due to the unpredictable nature of street drugs.
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