Fentanyl: Understanding the Danger and How to Avoid Overdose

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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. This short-acting drug cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled when mixed into other drugs, making it particularly dangerous.

While pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed for severe pain and end-of-life care, non-pharmaceutical fentanyl is produced illicitly and has become common in the illicit drug supply. In New York City, the presence of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths, making it the most common drug involved in such fatalities. In 2020 alone, 1,580 New Yorkers died from fentanyl-involved overdoses.

Avoiding an Overdose

Fentanyl use significantly increases the risk of overdose, especially for those who do not regularly use opioids. Anyone using drugs that may contain fentanyl, even occasionally, is at risk. Fentanyl has been found in many different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, and ketamine. It can also be found in counterfeit pills made to look like prescription painkillers or benzodiazepines, such as Xanax®, Klonopin®, and Valium®.

Here are steps to reduce your risk of overdose:

1. Test Your Drugs: Use fentanyl test strips to check for the presence of fentanyl. If the test is positive, consider not using the substance. If you decide to use it, start with a small dose and go slowly.
2. Avoid Using Alone: Use drugs with others and take turns.
3. Avoid Mixing Drugs: Combining drugs increases the risk of overdose.
4. Keep Naloxone Ready: Have naloxone (Narcan) on hand in case of an overdose.

If you need to talk to someone about substance use services or treatment, contact 988.

Fentanyl Test Strips

Fentanyl test strips are an easy-to-use tool that can detect fentanyl in various drugs. Here are some resources to help you learn how to use them:

• Fentanyl Test Strips: Instructional Video
• Fentanyl Test Strip Instructional Brochure (PDF) [Available in multiple languages: Español, 繁體中文, 简体中文, Русский, Kreyòl ayisyen, 한국어, বাংলা, Italiano, Polski, Français, ײִדיש, العربية, اردو]
• Fentanyl Test Strip Instructional Poster (PDF) [Available in multiple languages: Español, 繁體中文, 简体中文, Русский, Kreyòl ayisyen, 한국어, বাংলা, Italiano, Polski, Français, ײִדיש, العربية, اردو]

If you need fentanyl test strips for personal use, a list of community organizations provides them at no cost. You can also find test strips at some of the Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs listed.

Fentanyl Test Strip Trainings

The Health Department offers virtual trainings on the use of fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction tool and strategies for community engagement. If you are interested in learning about fentanyl and fentanyl test strips, or if your organization distributes fentanyl test strips in the community, register for an upcoming training:

• Thursday, August 1, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, August 20, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 11, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 24, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Please note that the Health Department does not supply fentanyl test strips to training attendees.

For more information, visit the official website or contact your local health department.

By AUTISM LATINO MAGAZINE in Association with BLOCK WORK MEDIA GROUP

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DATA SOURCE: Fentanyl - NYC Health

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