Fentanyl is a drug. It belongs to a family of drugs called opioids. Opioids are used as a pain medication and anesthesia. It comes in an injectable form. It’s also available as lozenges, and as a Fentanyl Patch. In these forms, Fentanyl is a very effective drug.
But drug dealers turned it into a murderous drug. They produce their own kind of Fentanyl. A kind of Fentanyl that is hundreds of times more potent than the medical kind. And they sell it as heroin, cocaine, OxyContin, and MDMA. Fentanyl traces have been found even in marijuana.
Their motivation is profit. They create these Fentanyl-laced versions of drugs to compensate for low-quality drugs. Low-quality drugs that they would have to sell at low prices. And, would not be accepted by addicts because of their low potential to produce a high. Instead, the Fentanyl-laced versions command higher prices. And are sought after by addicts looking for a stronger high.
But, their profit scheme turns deadly. The illegal Fentanyl produces more respiratory depression than the medical versions. Using it as a recreational drugs is deadly. It leads to Fentanyl overdose. Often resulting in death. And, the source of these deaths is clearly documented.
Eighty-two percent of deaths from Fentanyl overdoses involved illegally manufactured fentanyl. While only four percent originated from a prescription.
Drug traffickers and dealers killed 82% of people that died from Fentanyl overdose. They killed them with the product that they created. They killed them to enrich themselves. That makes them murderers.
I used to feel anger toward the drug dealers on the streets, some of whom may be addicts themselves. This has changed – I now feel anger toward the people who are never seen, who don’t seem to care about what they are putting on the streets, who they are killing, how many lives they are responsible for, or how many families they are tearing apart. Their concern is money. These are the people who infuriate me. They are preying on those who are the suffering, struggling and scared. I always say, “walk in another man’s shoes” so that I don’t judge people, so that I can forgive. Right now I can’t do either.
My hope is always that a person who has done terrible things can make a complete turn around. I believe that is a very strong force – someone who finds the strength to change his/her life around – to make amends. That is my hope for those people who are creating these deadly products that are being put into our streets and those who are lining their pockets with money. My hope – but it doesn’t like that is happening any time soon.