The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published information highlighting the proliferation of deadly fentanyl in America. Fentanyl is approximately 50 times more powerful than heroin and is finding its way into a wide variety of street drugs.
CBS affiliate WMAZ covered this topic in a January 10, 2022 post. Of particular interest was that fentanyl, since 2020, has killed more adults age 18-45 than COVID-19, car wrecks, and suicide combined.
The WMAZ article quoted a Dr. Grady Carter who explained how people in recovery from opioids may experience a decrease in their tolerance to the drug as their abstinence continues. This can put an individual at increased risk of opioid overdose if they relapse. Factor in the potential for fentanyl being mixed in and the risk of death is even greater.
If you or a loved one have been struggling with a substance use disorder, please reach out for help as soon as possible. There is currently additional funding available to help individuals interested in treatment for addiction.
