The counterfeit of hydrocodone pills containing Fentanyl. – DEA / SIPA
    • 06/03/2016 at 1:43
    • updated

in 2014, more than 28,000 people died from an overdose of opiate United States. That is almost as many as the number of casualties on the roads. According to the autopsy report, Prince died of an accidental overdose of Fentanyl, a painkiller more powerful than heroin and morphine. And health authorities are concerned, while the number of opiate overdoses has increased fourfold in twenty years

& gt;. & Gt; Read also: Prince died of an overdose of Fentanyl

Fentanyl What is

A synthetic opioid developed in the 50s? . According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is more potent than heroin (50 times) and morphine (100 times). It is prescribed by doctors to treat chronic pain, including some cancers. Unlawful release also bought on the black market, and the mixed some addicts to heroin to multiply the effects.



How is it administered?

can be injected intravenously, especially for anesthesia. For chronic pain, it is sold as a transdermal patch, nasal spray or lozenge, which diffuse tiny amounts of the microgram. Because it is very powerful, the lethal dose of the opioid is very low, around 2 milligrams. In case of overdose, it is possible to save a patient with a rapid injection of naloxone, a compound that blocks the effects of opiates.



Fentanyl Overdoses in exploded in 2014

the figure of 28,000 deaths in 2014 in the United States covers both overdoses on heroin, pharmaceutical opiates and those sold illicitly. The majority of drug overdoses are due to oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin’s) and methadone, doctors easily prescribe. The CDC does not provide national figures for Fentanyl but more than 500 deaths were reported in Ohio, the state most affected in 2014, against 97 the previous year. A sharp increase between 200 and 400% year on year, was found in Maryland (185 deaths) and Florida (397 deaths). In California, 14 people died in April after consuming hydrocodone pills containing Fentanyl. Bernie Sanders Donald Trump, many presidential candidates have called on governments to act to stem an “epidemic”.

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