The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Learn more about what xylazine is and how physicians can help combat its threat. Learn more about physicians’ actions toward ending the nation’s drug-related overdose and death epidemic—and what still needs to be done.
City To Study Use Of Fentanyl-detecting Test Strips By Distributing Them In Exchange Vans
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used to treat severe pain, often in patients who have developed a tolerance to other opioids. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and is often used in hospitals and other medical settings to manage pain after surgery or during cancer treatment. However, the misuse of fentanyl has become a serious public health concern in recent years, leading many people to wonder: can you buy fentanyl over the counter?
Where To Get Naloxone
No, You Cannot Buy Fentanyl Over the Counter
Regardless of test results, start low, go slow, have naloxone/Narcan nearby and don’t use alone. Michael Gilbert, an independent researcher who has studied darknet drug markets, said that not only do individual users buy drugs on the darknet, so do dealers who go on to resell the drug in their local area. “A lot of people have used drugs that have flowed through cryptomarkets without knowing what cryptomarkets are,” he said. According to the report, most of this fentanyl originates in China.
Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it has a high potential for abuse and is subject to strict regulations. It can only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and can only be obtained through a pharmacy with a valid prescription. It is illegal to possess, distribute, or sell fentanyl without a prescription.
The Senate investigator said Chinese authorities might have been lax in shutting down these websites in the past because opioid overdoses are not as big of a problem in that country as they are in the United States. But the investigator anticipates stricter enforcement to come. The drug user in Texas said he first began using opioids when a doctor prescribed him hydrocodone for a bad cough he had as a teenager. He progressed to prescription painkillers, and then, when they became too expensive, to heroin. Pennsylvania’s naloxone standing order is a prescription written for the general public issued by Pennsylvania’s Acting Secretary of Health.
Fentanyl Kit
Why is Fentanyl Regulated so Strictly?
Fentanyl is a highly potent drug that can be deadly even in small doses. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to increase their potency, but this also increases the risk of overdose. Fentanyl can also be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, making it a serious hazard in the workplace and other environments. Because of these risks, fentanyl is subject to strict regulations to prevent its misuse and to protect public health.
New Tool To Combat Overdose Deaths: Fentanyl Test Strips
What are the Risks of Fentanyl Misuse?
Misuse of fentanyl can lead to serious health consequences, including addiction, overdose, and death. Fentanyl is a highly potent drug, and even small amounts can be deadly. It can also cause respiratory depression, which can lead to unconsciousness and death if not treated promptly. In addition, fentanyl can interact with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines and alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose and other adverse effects.
In fact, the majority of overdose deaths now involve synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. One commonly used fentanyl test strip or “FTS” (BTNX Inc., Markham, ON, Canada) is a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of fentanyl in urine at the cutoff concentration of 20 ng/mL. A positive result on this test strip gives one line, a negative result gives two lines, and an invalid test gives either no line or no control line [21]. The “off label” use of the FTS in a harm reduction context involves preparation of a solution of the drug to be checked.
- Naloxone is a medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
- The drug is also distributed by community organizations that serve people who use drugs, though it’s not easily accessible to everyone who needs it.
- Even people who don’t use drugs or opioids should have naloxone on hand.
- Illicit fentanyl is sold alone or in combination with other drugs.
Conclusion
To sum up, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used to treat severe pain, but it is not available over the counter. It is a Schedule II controlled substance that can only be obtained through a valid prescription. Misuse of fentanyl can lead to serious health consequences, including addiction, overdose, and death. It is important to use fentanyl only as directed by a healthcare provider and to follow all safety precautions to prevent accidental exposure and overdose.
