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Traces of fentanyl in cocaine, crack, methamphetamines, pills and heroin have been reported recently. Even if you don’t use substances that depress the nervous system, you may be at risk of unknowingly using fentanyl.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is an extremely strong, fast-acting opioid. Opioids are nervous system depressants, examples are heroin, oxycodone, and morphine. Although fentanyl is a prescribed medication, it has recently begun to be created illegally, and is combined into other drugs. Sometimes sellers don’t know they are selling a product with fentanyl.

What is the danger?

An overdose caused by fentanyl use manifests itself the same as an overdose caused by heroin or some other opioid, but it comes much faster. Most of the time it is not possible to know if your product has been mixed with fentanyl, and when it is, it is not mixed evenly. This means that if you buy a bag of pills, some may have fentanyl and others may not.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who uses street drugs may be at risk of unknowingly using fentanyl and overdosing. Remember, it’s not just in heroin, it can be found in stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. Anyone who injects, inhales, smokes, or ingests drugs is at risk of using fentanyl.

This publication is made possible by grant number TI010004 from SAMHSA. The opinions and content of this publication are those of Sonoran Prevention Works and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of SAHMSA or HHS.

How can I be safe?

If you overdose, no one will be with you to help. If you are making the decision to use alone, do not lock the door, and take the time to tell someone where you will be.

You can always use more, but you can’t use less. Use a little and see how you feel before consuming the entire pill, injecting the entire dose, or inhaling a large line.

To make sure your substance does not contain fentanyl before using it. These can be purchased at www.dancesafe.org, and can recognize fentanyl combined in other substances.

Fentanyl and other opioids cause the body to stop breathing. The person using it will fall unconscious, their breathing will become abnormal, and their pupils will become millimeters. Your skin will turn blue or gray. After a person stops breathing, they have 4 minutes before they die.

Position the person on their back, squeeze the person’s nose, tilt the person’s head, and give mouth-to-mouth breathing every 5 seconds. If you do not have naloxone with you, or the naloxone you administered is not working, continue doing this until professional help arrives or until the person regains consciousness.

Naloxone is the medication used to reverse the effects of an overdose caused by opioids, therefore, it is the medication that should be used in the event of an overdose caused by the use of fentanyl. In Arizona, it is 100% legal to carry and administer naloxone, and can be obtained for free through Sonoran Prevention Works. Visit www.spwaz.org or call 480-442-7086.