Why does fentanyl have such a hold on north central West Virginia?

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia is no stranger to drug epidemics, as it currently faces the opioid crisis head-on. But in recent years, the trends of prescription pills and heroin have made way for a substance best known as a “one-and-done killer”—fentanyl.

In an interview with 12 News, Northern District of West Virginia Attorney, William Ihlenfeld, referred to the drug as “the greatest drug threat law enforcement has ever faced.”

Chemicals in fentanyl are supplied from China, manufactured in Mexico , and distributed through major drug cartels into the United States.

The drug has gained popularity with dealers for how cheap and easy it is to create. In contrast, heroin requires a longer processing period and expenses for manufacturing; fentanyl’s lower costs, mean greater profits.

12 News also spoke with Mateen Abdul Maziz or “Tuna,” who is a community activist in Clarksburg who once sold drugs.

“I’ve never been into using drugs, I don’t know what it’s like to get that high, but I can tell you from chasing money, it’s—an adrenaline rush, just like riding a rollercoaster,” said Tuna.

When fentanyl falls into the hands of a first-time user, the results are often deadly, according to Ihlenfeld, and yet, that doesn’t deter users, according to Tuna.

“It’s one and done, that whole era of experimentation is over now. Young people used to be able to try something, that maybe their friend shared with them at a party and live to tell about it, and that era is over,” said Ihlenfeld.

“When you have these overdoses, the people hear about it, wherever that person got that from, the next person wants to gravitate to the same place because in their eyes, you know, that’s where you get the good stuff,” said Tuna.

When drugs like meth and cocaine are mixed with a low dosage of fentanyl, it creates a greater addiction and an avid customer.

Statistics have shown that pressed pills are affecting adolescents more than any other age group, as they may think they’re buying Percocet or Adderall.

“The trends in the United States show that children in that age category are using drugs less frequently, drug use is trending downward, which is fabulous, I think alcohol use is trending downward as well which is fabulous, but the total of deaths is trending upward. So how do we have it that they’re using drugs less often, but they’re dying more frequently? It’s because of fentanyl,” said Ihlenfeld.

“I don’t care who you are, this drug epidemic affects all of us, directly or indirectly. As a community, as a town, as a state, we have to get better at providing services to help people who are out there. You know, we can sit around and be mad and complain, but complaining about them is not going to do anything. We have to make it easier to get services for them to get that help,” said Tuna.

You can learn more about fentanyl and its effects at the US DEA’s website and statistics specific to West Virginia are available on the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy’s website .

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