Opiate fentanyl overdoses spread wildly through west coast

Ten people have overdosed on a potent counterfeit opiate sold on the streets of Sacramento County. Officials began seeing a prevalence of overdoses two weeks ago, which they suspected links to fentanyl, a painkiller 100 times the strength of morphine and lethal in small doses. Over a dozen fatal cases were reported within 48 hours according to the LA Times.

Patients, however, thought they were taking Norco, also an opiate, but less dangerous that sells for $3 to $5. Federal authorities at the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public safety announcement that fentanyl-related overdoses are “occurring at an alarming rate” advising that people only take pills prescribed to them from a reputable source such as a physician or pharmacy. Victims ranged from 18 to 59 years old.

With such a spate of cases, authorities are concerned that the fentanyl abuse has permeated the west initially centered on the East Coast. Officials believe Mexican drug cartels influenced the spread.

Fentanyl has historically been prescribed to cancer patients since the 1960’s, a power therapy administered as a lozenge, patch, or injection. But the drug has been artificially manufactured into other iterations such as “China White” or “Apache,” which has also started to infiltrate streets.

The number of seizures from illegal use of fentanyl nationwide between 2012 and 2014 has spiked sevenfold to 4,585 fatalities. The drug produces an intense euphoria in the form of a white powder, which is also used to cut heroin and cocaine or fobbed off as separate drug. Dealers splice it into product to give it an extra kick or to produce more sellable heroin cheaply, said Rachel Anderson, executive director of the Sacramento-area needle exchange Safer Alternatives Thru Networking & Education.

“Is it new? Yes and no. We’ve been aware of what’s going on the East Coast and expecting it to show up in one form or another,” Anderson noted.