Over the past two decades, the opioid crisis has ruined the lives of millions of individuals. It began with the rise of prescription opioids like OxyContin. It is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain. But as time went on, it became clear that these medications could be very addictive as well as risky. Even though laws have changed and doctors are now more careful with prescriptions, the threat has not gone away. In fact, a new & even more dangerous drug has taken over: illicit fentanyl or IFM.
The Start: Prescription Of Opioids Like OxyContin
OxyContin is a brand-name opioid drug made from oxycodone. Core item is Oxycodone. It was approved by the FDA in 1995 & after that became widely used in the early 2000s. It was promoted as a safe & effective way to treat long-term pain. This pain includes such as back problems or arthritis. However, many individuals were not aware how addictive it could be.
Opioids like OxyContin work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Then they create a sense of relaxation or sometimes euphoria. These feelings can lead to misuse. Some patients began taking more than prescribed whereas others crush & snort the pills to get a stronger effect. This led to addiction & in many cases leads to overdose. it creates a sense of hallucination in user.
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At first, the problem was mostly about prescription misuse. People were getting opioids legally from doctors, but using then using them in unsafe ways. Pharmaceutical firms play a major role by downplaying the risks. As awareness grew, so did efforts to stop the problem.
The Clampdown on Prescriptions
By the 2010s, the danger of prescription opioids were well known. Doctors became more cautious in prescribing them. New set of rules were started to limit how many opioids could be prescribed & for how long. Pharmacies also tightened their controls over the sale of these. Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) were created to track prescriptions & reduce “doctor shopping” when people go to multiple doctors to get more pills at one time.
These efforts helped diminish the number of prescription opioids being given out. However, the need or ask for opioids didn’t just vanished. Personnel who had become addicted still needed them. As prescription pills became harder to get, many users turned to illegal drugs instead.
The Rise of Heroin
As prescription opioids became less available. Heroin became the next option for many people with addiction. It was cheaper, easier to find on the street & also gave a similar effect. Heroin use increased across the U.S., especially in rural areas & small towns that had been hit hard by prescribed drug abuse.
This change from legal opioids to heroin brought various fresh problems. Heroin is often unregulated. This means users don’t always know what they’re taking or how strong it is. Overdoses rose sharply & many communities or people struggled to keep up with the growing danger.
The Fentanyl Crisis: A New and Deadly Threat
In the mid-2010s, another dangerous drug entered the scene which was IFM or illicit fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than other drugs like heroin or morphine. While prescription fentanyl is used safely in hospitals for old & tough pain, illicit fentanyl is made in illegal labs & sold on the black market. It is often mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, or morphine prescription pills.
This makes it very harmful & dangerous. People often don’t understand if they’re taking fentanyl or not. A tiny amount just as little as two milligrams can be enough to kill you. Many overdose deaths happen because the person didn’t even know fentanyl was in the drug they were using.
Fentanyl has abruptly become the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. As per the reports of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 70,000 deaths in 2021 were linked to synthetic opioids. They say main cause was fentanyl.
Why Illicit Fentanyl Is So Dangerous
There are several reasons why illicit fentanyl is more dangerous than prescription opioids like OxyContin:
- It’s Extremely Dynamic: Fentanyl is much stronger than other opioids. A very tiny dose can be deadly. It can be more toxic if the user has a low tolerance.
- It’s Often Mixed with Other Drugs: Traffickers often mix fentanyl with heroin, meth, or fake pain pills to increase the strength & lower money spent. This makes it hard for users to know what they’re actually feeding their bodies.
- It Spreads Quickly: Fentanyl is very less costly to make & also easy to transport. It’s often sent into the U.S. through international drug trafficking routes. This makes it widely available.
- It Leads to Huge Overdoses: As users often don’t know they are taking fentanyl, they are not prepared for how aggressive it is. This has caused an increase in overdose deaths.
Is OxyContin Still a Threat?
Yes, but in a different way. While doctors prescribe opioids like OxyContin much less often today, the drug still plays a role in addiction. Many people who are now taking fentanyl started with prescription opioids. The early exposure to these drugs thru prescribed dosage created long-term addiction problems.
Also, some people still manage to get prescription opioids illegally through stolen prescriptions, fake doctors, date change or black-market sales. So while OxyContin isn’t the main threat anymore still it remains part of the bigger problem.
What Can Be Done?
Fighting the opioid crisis, especially the fentanyl crisis, needs a multi-layered approach:
- Education & Awareness: People need to know the risks of opioids & the problems of fentanyl. This includes teens, parents as well as communities.
- Access to Treatment: More programs are needed to help people with opioid addiction. This includes medication-assisted treatment like methadone or Suboxone, counseling & support groups.
- Harm Reduction: Tools like naloxone can reverse an overdose if used on time. Making this drug vastly available can save lives. Safe use programs as well as drug-checking kits can also help reduce harm.
- Law Enforcement as well as Border Control: Stopping the supply of illicit fentanyl or IFM means shutting down on illegal labs & tightening controls on international shipments.
- Responsible Prescribing: Doctors must continue to use caution when prescribing opioids. They should look for non-addictive ways to manage pain when possible.
Final Thoughts
The opioid crisis has changed over time, but the danger is still very present. Prescription opioids like OxyContin started the wave, but now illicit fentanyl is the biggest threat in the market. It’s stronger, more deadly & also much harder to control. People across the country are feeling the side-effects.
But there is hope. With the right mix of education, treatment, support & law enforcement, we can decrease the impact of this danger. It starts with understanding the issue & then helping those in need without judgment. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, don’t wait. Reach out for help. Recovery is possible, and every life is worth saving.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. StreetDrugs.org does not promote or encourage the use of any illegal substances.
Meredith is a seasoned health and policy writer with a background in public health and journalism. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) and has over 8 years of experience covering substance use, legislation, and social impact. Her work is driven by a passion for informed reporting and public awareness. Meredith contributes regularly to StreetDrugs.org, focusing on drug trends, global news, and Finance.