![]() Radical technological breakthroughs in drugs and drug markets: The cases of cannabis and fentanyl. Fentanyl test strips empower people and save lives-so why aren't they more widespread? You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Some symptoms of opioid withdrawal include: Withdrawal can make a person very ill and can be dangerous if a person is pregnant or has underlying health conditions. This can cause opioid withdrawal symptoms if they stop using fentanyl or the drug containing it. Some other risks of fentanyl use include:Īdditionally, using fentanyl frequently - even accidentally - can cause a person to become physically dependent on it, which could lead to addiction. This means that even a small quantity of fentanyl can lead to an overdose, especially if a person is using other drugs simultaneously. Lacing any drug - including cannabis - with fentanyl increases the risk of an overdose. Instead, stories of people overdosing on fentanyl while using cannabis might be because a person uses opioids while they use cannabis. The Ontario Harm Reduction Network in 2019 emphasized that many such stories involve no scientific testing and that cannabis in Canada has never tested positive for fentanyl. Stories of fentanyl-laced cannabis often provide little support for their claims. At its 2022 conference, for example, the Journal of Emergency Medical Services called fentanyl-laced cannabis a myth promoted by the media and law enforcement. Several advocacy organizations and experts say that the notion of fentanyl-laced cannabis is a hoax or myth. However, the man had a history of opioid use and might have been using fentanyl as an alternative source of opioids rather than using fentanyl-laced cannabis. When he stopped using cannabis, his urine stopped testing positive for fentanyl. This suggests he may have been using fentanyl-laced cannabis. His urine screens continued to test positive for fentanyl, but he claimed only to be using cannabis. Very little evidence supports this claim.Ī 2020 case report details the story of a 50-year-old male seeking treatment for opioid use disorder. Several media reports now also claim that drug dealers lace cannabis with fentanyl. Some drug dealers now press fentanyl into pills to make it look like an opioid prescription or to increase the “high” a person experiences with other opioids. This often happens when a person uses fentanyl alongside other drugs, but it can also cause an overdose on its own.Īs illegally manufactured fentanyl is readily available, it is also less expensive and more accessible than some other opioids. ![]() In recent years, it has become a leading cause of drug overdoses. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl is on the rise. Prescription fentanyl is safe when taken as instructed under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Share on Pinterest Bloomberg Creative/Getty Imagesįentanyl is a potent opioid that a person can only acquire through a medical prescription. Read on to learn more about fentanyl-laced cannabis, including the risks and how to avoid it. It emphasizes that reports claiming to have found fentanyl in cannabis often have alternate explanations or do not use scientific evidence. The Ontario Harm Reduction Network reports that there have been no laboratory documented cases of fentanyl-laced cannabis in Canada. However, as fentanyl remains more expensive than cannabis, fentanyl-laced cannabis would not make financial sense. However, it can intensify the side effects of other drugs and increase the risk of overdose.įentanyl is a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States, and some people who overdose do not know they are using fentanyl. This is because of its comparatively low cost. ![]() It is common for drug dealers to lace other drugs, such as prescription painkillers, with fentanyl. However, there is little evidence to support these reports, and some groups claim fentanyl-laced cannabis to be a myth. Several social media and news reports warn of fentanyl-laced cannabis.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |