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Understanding Fentanyl: Availability and Risks
Wherever you or someone you care about may be in a struggle with opioids, there are people ready to help. In Wisconsin, no one is alone in their journey to overcome opioid use disorder. An LGBTQ+ positive residential treatment program using evidenced-based, individualized strategies to help people recover from drug and alcohol addiction. According to experts, there are many reasons fentanyl has become such a widely used illicit drug, despite its high overdose potential. Find it in your community, or have it mailed to you by clicking here.
Can you buy fentanyl? This is a question that raises many concerns and reflects the complexities surrounding the availability of this powerful opioid.
Never use alone, but if you must, have someone check on you. Talk to friends and family about what to do if you overdose. Delaware’s Good Samaritan Law offers criminal and civil protection for individuals acting in good faith to assist someone who has overdosed on drugs or alcohol. DanceSafe is an organization that promotes health and safety within the electronic music community.
“It’s nice to not have to use your veins or not inject, and so a lot of people would prefer not to be doing that,” Kral said. “I think we’re going to see more and more people smoking fentanyl than injecting it.” What’s more, experts said, people are increasingly moving from injecting fentanyl to smoking it. While the test strips aren’t fool proof, they are another tool that could give you that chance. William Atkinson, founder of the Recovery Epicenter in Clearwater, showed Spectrum News how it works. For just a couple of bucks a test, a person can find out if what they are about to use has fentanyl in it.
After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives. That’s why it’s often used as a filler in fake prescription pills or street drugs. If you use street drugs or fake pills, you may take fentanyl without knowing it.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is primarily used in medical settings to treat severe pain, particularly after surgery or for patients with chronic pain conditions.
I’ve had a few people who quit using stimulants after using testing strips because they could not get any drugs that didn’t have fentanyl; their drugs were always testing positive for fentanyl. More than 30 years of evidence looking at providing sterile syringes to people who inject drugs shows people will use drugs, whether or not they have access to clean supplies. If they don’t have access to clean syringes, they may reuse or share needles, which increases their risk for HIV, hepatitis C and wounds. In 2019, UCSF funded a successful pilot project to distribute fentanyl test strips to San Francisco veterans at the center. The pilot paved the way for similar projects at other Veteran Affairs’ centers nationwide. It comes in both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical forms.
Medical Use of Fentanyl
Two lines, or a negative result, means no fentanyl has been detected. Many substances are laced with other substances, like fentanyl. Learn tips for how you can help protect your child from accidental overdose. Rescue breaths are critical for people who have used xylazine because it causes breathing to slow down.
This indicates that some vendors are directly involved in the manufacturing and supply, as well as onward distribution. Our research also shows that alongside darknet markets, some darknet vendors have set up smaller online stores selling fentanyl. On-chain data reveals that one of them – named “One Stop Shop Pharmacy Online” – procured fentanyl from the dealer Alex Peijnenburg, who has been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). ASAP Market showing a listing of fentanyl, despite supposedly banning the sale of the drug. One dark web marketplace – the since-retired “ASAP Market” – was particularly selective about enforcing its apparent “no fentanyl” policy.
Fentanyl is available legally only through a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. It can be found in several forms, including:
- Injectable solutions
- Patches
- Lozenges
- Nasal sprays
Infographic: Fentanyl Test Strips
Medical professionals carefully monitor its use due to its potential for addiction and overdose.
Buying Fentanyl Legally
In a legal context, can you buy fentanyl? Yes, but only through a prescription. Here’s how the process typically works:
- Consult a healthcare provider about your condition.
- If appropriate, the doctor may prescribe fentanyl.
- Obtain the medication from a licensed pharmacy.
Fentanyl on the Black Market
It is crucial to note that illicit forms of fentanyl are often sold illegally, posing significant health risks. The question “can you buy fentanyl?” matters not just in legal terms but also in public health implications.
Illicit fentanyl is commonly mixed with other street drugs, increasing the risk of overdose. These substances can include:
- CSU’s Responsible Action Exemption provides protection for students who provide help in these scenarios, so there’s no reason to worry about getting in trouble.
- Mississippi, Ohio and South Dakota have joined about 20 other states, including New York, where the strips were already legal.
- This includes support for increased use of a broad array of harm-reduction efforts services such as fentanyl drug test strips.
- Potency relates the purity of all pharmacologically active constituents.
- Legislation signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson last week allows people to obtain and use fentanyl testing strips, which could help curb overdose deaths linked to the powerful painkiller.
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- Fake prescription pills
Risks of Misuse
The misuse of fentanyl can lead to serious consequences, including:
- Overdose
- Addiction
- Death
Understanding the risks associated with buying fentanyl is essential for both individuals and communities.
FAQs about Fentanyl
Q: Can fentanyl be obtained without a prescription?
A: No, fentanyl is classified as a controlled substance and requires a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Q: What are the signs of a fentanyl overdose?
A: Symptoms may include slow or difficult breathing, extreme drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
Q: Is there a safe way to use fentanyl?
A: Yes, when prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional, fentanyl can be used safely for managing severe pain.
Conclusion
When considering the question “can you buy fentanyl,” it is crucial to recognize the legal, medical, and ethical implications surrounding its use. The best approach is to seek professional guidance and adhere to legal channels to ensure safety and compliance.
