The Dangers of Fentanyl Use: What You Need to Know

Fentanyl is the strongest opioid pain reliever on the market, at 50 times more potent than heroin, and 100 times more potent than morphine. Banyan Treatment Center in Pompano Beach has seen that the number of fentanyl-related overdoses in America has spiked in recent months tremendously. Dealers love it because of its potency – it’s cheaper than heroin and gets more bang for your buck. In unregulated amounts, dealers will mix fentanyl with other substances and sell it to unsuspecting users, who are unaware of exactly what they are ingesting. This phenomenon increases the chance of overdose tremendously, as users might get hit with irregularly strong doses.

Especially for newly sober addicts, the threat and dangers of fentanyl are deadly. After refraining from opioid use for a period of time, a drug user’s tolerance decreases significantly. If such a user relapses, they are unlikely to tolerate fentanyl, especially since addicts typically pick up the same dose they were used to using before sobriety. The ability of a relapsed addict to determine a safe dose of street level opioids is little to none. Dealers might even cut other drugs like marijuana or cocaine with fentanyl.

In South Florida, the opioid epidemic is rampant. In 2016, fentanyl caused more overdoses in Florida than every other drug combined.

It’s important to continue to educate yourself on drug epidemics and the dangers of fentanyl, not only for yourself, but for your loved ones as well. Below are listed common street names for the notorious drug:

• China White
• Tango
• Cash
• TNT
• Murder 8