At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of eight addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we make it our top priority to ensure that both our staff and patients become informed about the dangers of drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil. Recently, overdose deaths have decreased. In fact, overdoses are at their lowest number in over five years, dropping by close to 27 percent. While that is good news, the drug crisis in America is far from over.
Carfentanil use has become a major concern in the US. It has now been detected in 37 states. What is carfentanil? Have you heard of it? Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that acts as a tranquilizer for large mammals such as elephants. It is not approved for use by humans. It is around 10,000 times stronger than morphine, and approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl. We must take these facts seriously – several months ago, we explained in a blog the dangers of fentanyl use. Consuming two milligrams of fentanyl can result in death. Therefore, it’s certainly an alarming fact to consider that a deadly dose of carfentanil is even less than two milligrams. The chances of an overdose are so high with this drug, because such a tiny (almost microscopic) amount can be deadly.
Therefore, you may be wondering what steps you should take to ensure that you or a loved one do not become a victim of this drug. Firstly, you should never interact directly with any substances that you believe may contain carfentanil. The handling of these substances should be left to law enforcement and other trained professionals. This is crucial, because some types of carfentanil can be absorbed through the skin, or even accidentally inhaled.
Next, you should be aware of any signs of exposure. For example, if you begin to experience symptoms that are abnormal for you, such as changes in breathing patterns, sedation, or feeling dizzy and confused, you should seek medical attention. Substances such as carfentanil and fentanyl are known to do their damage very rapidly, so it is crucial that you call EMS should you suspect someone has overdosed or been exposed.
Additionally, Naloxone is a potentially life-saving antidote that can reverse an overdose of carfentanil and other opioids. The important part to note here is that naloxone should be continuously administered to the user until proper help arrives, such as EMS. At Victory, we ensure that our staff is fully educated on naloxone and its life-saving benefits.
If you know of a friend or family member that has a history of substance use, it is recommended that you have a discussion with them about carfentanil. Explaining the dangers associated with use is important – but also, we must explain the actions our loved ones should take to avoid contact with this deadly substance. For example, do not buy any pills on the street, as there is a very high chance that they can be laced with fentanyl or carfentanil. The amount of carfentanil that it would take to make a pill deadly is so tiny that the human eye could barely notice it (if at all). If you are someone with a history of substance use and addiction, it is key that you avoid all possible situations where you may encounter carfentanil.
Victory Recovery Partners is a network of addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York. We now have eight locations, including two methadone centers, with a third opening next week (July 7th). Our services and approach to patient care and wellbeing are unique. We provide total and complete care under one roof, consisting of behavioral health, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric, and wellness services. We also accept all insurances, ensuring that “patients come first, everything else follows.” At Victory each and every patient matters; we make this our mission, as our motto is “no one left behind.” For more information on Victory, visit our website.