The epidemic of Fentanyl
Trey Stewart, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash.com
In a world that seems to get crazier with every day that goes by, the crisis involving the potent painkiller drug, Fentanyl, may not come as a surprise to some.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is cheaper and easier to access than heroin, meaning more people are being affected by this drug and at a much quicker pace.
The spread of this drug has caused the deaths of many people who have come into contact with it, but it is not an issue that arose overnight. Over the course of the year 2017, Fentanyl overdoses slowly became a more prevalent issue among many different communities.
While it has recently become a prominent epidemic in America, the source of most production of the drug can be traced back to illicit laboratories in China. While most of the purchasing is done by Mexican drug cartels; it has been making its way into the United States predominantly through the U.S. mail system.
In speaking to USA Today, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency Robert Perez said, “I expect that in fiscal year 2017, the number of seizures in the mail and express consignment environment will be much higher than they were last year.”
It’s very possible that someone you know could become addicted to Fentanyl if they are exposed to it, or even if it is prescribed to them by a doctor for medical purposes. Should this be the case with someone close to you, there are ways to help them kick this addiction that is harming so many people.
According to DrugAbuse.com, there are five effective ways that someone who has fallen under a Fentanyl addiction can find a way out. Should somebody be trapped in the dangerous realm of this painkiller, the most effective ways for them to escape are as follows:
1. Safe Medical Detox from Fentanyl
In essence, this just means that the addict needs to be removed from the Fentanyl drug in a manner that is safe for both their physical and mental health.
2. Evaluation
The person addicted to the drug should be looked at closely and have their behavior analyzed after spending a set amount of time removed from the Fentanyl.
3. Therapy
This is where the old saying “misery loves company” comes into play heavily in this epidemic, along with so many others. The recovering Fentanyl addict should be surrounded by people who are struggling with the same problem as them, so that they feel a sense of comfort and security in the people they are spending their time around.
4. Participation in 12-step recovery programs
While this may be the hardest part of the recovery process for most former addicts, by most aspects, it is the most important one.
5. Optional Aftercare
Should it be deemed necessary, the recovering addict can be placed in a safe sober-living facility where they can live and learn to recover on their own before finally completing the process and beating their addiction to Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a growing problem in the United States, and it has been in the news frequently as more and more people are attaining it, including instances of children as young as 12 getting a hold of this dangerous substance.
In a planet full of secretly out-of-control people, someone you know may very well be struggling with addiction but remaining silent about it. It’s highly important that they seek help and attempt to break free from it, or else what seemed harmless at first may turn into something deadly when things are all said and done.
