Opioids
What is the difference between heroin and fentanyl?
Fentanyl is synthetic
Overdose death rates were highest among young adults ages?
25-44 years of age
Why do so many drug related deaths go unreported?
-People with them are afraid of getting in legal trouble.
-Die alone
-Unaware of what they're taking
"Cutting agents" or laced drugs are not a new concept. What are some other examples of cutting agents aside from synthetic substances such as fentanyl?
-laundry detergent
-rat poison
-talcum powder
-embalming fluid
Fentanyl is 100x more powerful than what drugs?
Heroin and/or morphine
How many Americans die each day from opioid overdose?
More than 136 reported deaths each day.
What are Good Samaritan laws?
"Good Samaritan" laws that create immunities or other legal protections for people who call for help in the event of an overdose to encourage and protect bystanders who may otherwise not be willing to call for fear of being arrested for drug-related crimes.
What drug is responsible for 7 of 10 OD's?
Opioids
What is the lethal dosage of fentanyl?
3-4 grains of salt or as big as the tip of a sharpened pencil.
How quickly dose a fentanyl overdose occur?
Within seconds to minutes
How many deaths due to overdose go unreported each year?
No one really knows. There was an estimate of around 70,000 deaths due to overdose that go unreported each year in the US.
Alcohol use is a significant risk factor for what brain disease?
Dementia
What other drugs has fentanyl most commonly been showing up in? (laced drugs)
Most commonly found in cocaine, heroin, pain pills like Percocet, Oxycodone or Norco pills, and in prescription anxiety medications like Xanax.
What country has the leading consumers of illegal drugs?
United States
What is the lifesaving treatment for an active overdose?
Naloxone or Narcan nasal spray
What are some long-term effects of using marijuana at a young age (under 25)?
Impaired learning ability and memory loss.
How? Adolescent marijuana use impacts how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions.
Also, chronic use has led to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Signs and symptoms of opioid overdose.
How many deaths occur in US each year because of OD's?
There were 106,699 drug-involved overdose deaths reported in the U.S. in 2021. A shocking number of overdose deaths go unreported.
How much Narcan is necessary to impact a fentanyl overdose?
Narcan does work on fentanyl, but multiple doses may be needed, and it needs to be administered quickly.
What are the legal impacts of selling/distributing fentanyl laced substances?