3 ms·

But for a lot prescription meds is the gateway drug to cheaper stuff

ch4s3 4y ago
Yes and no. Very few people get started with a legitimate prescription. The typical opioid OD happens to someone who had other substance abuse and mental health problems and at some point started taking resold/stolen prescription opioids. Until fentanyl flooded the market most ODs were multi-substance and often(some 85%+ in places where coroners checked if memory serves) involved a LOT of alcohol. Now, its often just fentanyl, which is hard to dose correctly especially if you've recently tried to quit.
- the_mar 4y ago
  do you have source for that?
- narrator 4y ago
  A lot of people who die from fentanyl ODs are just casual drug users who are buying some other drug that happens to be laced with fentanyl. They die before they even know what's happening. It takes surprisingly little to kill someone and the illegal drug manufacturers are not that great with quality control when they cut the drugs they sell. I'm aware of people who used to take recreational drugs from time to time, but have quit completely because of the risk of accidentally overdosing because the dealers put fentanyl in almost everything now.
  - whimsicalism 4y ago
    Most people who die from fentanyl ODs are opioid addicted. They are not getting it in other drugs - that happens (I test all my drugs for fentanyl) but is not any where near a majority of fentanyl deaths.
    - JumpCrisscross 4y ago
      > test all my drugs for fentanyl How?
      - fragmede 4y ago
        https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-box-of-100/ https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-box-of-10... Searching Google for "fentanyl test kit" + location (eg Denver) will connect you with your local dept of public health, which often (in non puritanical, harm-reduction states, which includes Texas) has free/low cost options. They often also have Narcan to distribute after teaching you how to use it.
      - ch4s3 4y ago
        You can buy eat kits online.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]

Yes and no. Very few people get started with a legitimate prescription. The typical opioid OD happens to someone who had other substance abuse and mental health problems and at some point started taking resold/stolen prescription opioids. Until fentanyl flooded the market most ODs were multi-substance and often(some 85%+ in places where coroners checked if memory serves) involved a LOT of alcohol. Now, its often just fentanyl, which is hard to dose correctly especially if you've recently tried to quit.

the_mar 4y ago
do you have source for that?
narrator 4y ago
A lot of people who die from fentanyl ODs are just casual drug users who are buying some other drug that happens to be laced with fentanyl. They die before they even know what's happening. It takes surprisingly little to kill someone and the illegal drug manufacturers are not that great with quality control when they cut the drugs they sell. I'm aware of people who used to take recreational drugs from time to time, but have quit completely because of the risk of accidentally overdosing because the dealers put fentanyl in almost everything now.
- whimsicalism 4y ago
  Most people who die from fentanyl ODs are opioid addicted. They are not getting it in other drugs - that happens (I test all my drugs for fentanyl) but is not any where near a majority of fentanyl deaths.
  - JumpCrisscross 4y ago
    > test all my drugs for fentanyl How?
    - fragmede 4y ago
      https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-box-of-100/ https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-box-of-10... Searching Google for "fentanyl test kit" + location (eg Denver) will connect you with your local dept of public health, which often (in non puritanical, harm-reduction states, which includes Texas) has free/low cost options. They often also have Narcan to distribute after teaching you how to use it.
    - ch4s3 4y ago
      You can buy eat kits online.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]