Counterfeit opioids, also referred to as street opioids, are an ever growing problem in the United States. One of these drugs, Fentanyl, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Used to treat chronic, severe pain, Fentanyl is increasingly showing up on the streets. In fact, the drug is found in hundreds of thousands of counterfeit opioids, putting people who use the drugs at risk of overdose or even death. In many cases, those who use the drugs take them in the mistaken belief that they are taking oxycodone when they are actually taking lethal amounts of Fentanyl.
There are many dangers associated with consuming counterfeit medicine. For instance, these drugs are often produced in substandard conditions and are labeled incorrectly in terms of ingredients and dosages. In addition, they are often made with dangerous, unapproved drugs or other ingredients that can be poisonous or otherwise dangerous to consume. Street opioids can also be dangerous due to possible drug interactions or because they contain excessive amounts of certain substances.
Clearly, the best way to avoid these dangers is to only purchase prescription opioids from reputable pharmaceuticals and to use them as prescribed. Of course, for those who are addicted to opioids, this often is not an option as they become desperate to obtain the drugs they need. If you or a loved one needs help kicking the opioid habit, contact Advanced Spine & Rehab today to learn more about our Suboxone recovery program.