Analogs of Fentanyl Fuel Overdose Deaths

The United States has witnessed a surge in the number of opioid overdose deaths in recent
years, particularly due to the increase in the distribution of illegally made non-pharmaceutical
synthetic opioids like fentanyl and tramadol. In fact, many heard of fentanyl for the first time
only after the death of the pop star Prince in 2016.
This highly potent drug is 100 times stronger than morphine. In fact, just a few grains of this
white powder is enough to kill an adult. Many epidemiologists associate the increase in
overdose deaths to heroin or cocaine mixed with fentanyl that results in a high, increase in
illegally made fentanyl and lack of awareness among buyers about heroin being adulterated
with fentanyl.
The synthetic
opioid like fentanyl
is usually
administered to the
last stage cancer
patients to cope
with severe pain
but it can be lethal
when taken in
more than the
prescribed amount.
Being highly
addictive in nature,
it has a high
potential for abuse
and can prove to be
life-threatening.
According to the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has
been an increase of 79 percent in synthetic opioid-related deaths largely due to fentanyl while
the drug products obtained by the law enforcement agencies, i.e., fentanyl submissions,
increased by 426 percent in 2013-2014. Similarly, there were over 22,000 deaths or 62 deaths
per day due to synthetic opioids, excluding methadone, which is a stark increase from 19,000
synthetic opioid-related deaths in 2014. However, these statistics are not accurate because:

Heroin overdose deaths involving fentanyl may not be screened by coroners during
the autopsy.
Individuals who overdosed may not have known that their drug was cut with fentanyl.

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 Generally, death due to a fentanyl overdose among legitimate prescribed patients is
not accounted for in the national overdose statistics.
Rise of fentanyl
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the first reports of fentanyl abuse
dates back to the mid-1970s. The next surge of fentanyl-related overdose deaths was
observed between 2005 and 2007 that caused over 1,000 deaths. Fortunately, the DEA traced
the origin of illegally made fentanyl to a single site in Mexico and shut it down, thereby
eliminating the danger.
However, the U.S. now faces a new problem due to the appearance of decentralized pill mills
and fentanyl laboratories in many pockets of the country. This has further compounded the
severity of the problem. Moreover, it is a lot more tedious for the law enforcement agencies
to address the problem on time. This only adds to the burden of illegal fentanyl making
inroads in the U.S. territory mainly due to smuggling by the Mexican cartels, Chinese
laboratories and online sellers.
Moreover, anti-overdose drugs such as naloxone, are less effective in saving the lives of the
fentanyl overdose victims due to the rise of its analogs, such as sufentanil, carfentanil, etc.,
that are more potent than fentanyl. The fact that carfentanil is used for tranquilizing
elephants hints at the lethality of such substances. A person who has overdosed on fentanyl
would require twice as much naloxone than a heroin overdose victim, to be revived.
Between 2014 and 2015, it came to light that 15 states and Washington, D.C. saw an increase
of 50 percent or more in opioid-related deaths with a high prevalence of fentanyl. Moreover,
the Eastern U.S. saw a steep rise in deaths involving synthetic opioids as compared to the
Western U.S. This is largely attributable to the fact that Eastern U.S. mostly trades in white
heroin and the Western U.S. mainly in darker heroin. And, white powder heroin is easier to
cut with fentanyl than the latter.
Illicit drugs lead to torment and death
Illegally made analogs of fentanyl, such as sufentanil, carfentanil, etc., are wreaking havoc in
the U.S. It's not just opioid epidemic anymore as many different substances are contributing
to overdose deaths in the U.S. The long-term consequences of drug abuse are usually
detrimental to ones health and aggravate further if left unaddressed. Therefore, it is
advisable to seek early intervention to minimize the negative impact of drug abuse.
If you or your loved one is coping with drug addiction, it is imperative to seek help. The
Colorado Substance Abuse Advisors can help you access the best substance abuse treatment
programs in Colorado that specialize in delivering evidence-based intervention plans. Call us
at our 24/7 helpline number 866-300-5857 to know more about the drug abuse treatment
options near you.

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