Heroin and other opiates are currently a big problem in Florida. While some opiates are prescribed as pain relievers, it can be a slippery slope when it comes to drug abuse and addiction.
In this article, we discuss what’s in Florida’s drug supply; in particular, the heroin cuts and blends.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is an opioid drug that’s derived from morphine. Heroin can either be a white or brown powder, or it can be in the form of a black and sticky substance. When heroin is consumed, it induces feelings of extreme euphoria.
This drug has become quite the health and social problem in the United States. Many experts argue that the over-prescription of opiate painkillers is partly to blame for the epidemic. When people get hooked on pharmaceutical opioids such as Oxycontin, they often end up turning to heroin because the effects are similar but cost less.
Opioid abuse has been a particular problem in recent years in Florida, and the stats suggest the over-prescription of opioids is the culprit. Many of the deaths that have occurred in Florida could be attributed to particular heroin cuts.
What Are Heroin Cuts?
When you buy heroin on the street, you never know what you’re buying. To stretch out their supply, a drug dealer might cut the heroin they sell with another substance. This is dangerous for a variety of reasons.
For example, you might consistently get heroin that’s cut with something relatively benign. Even this could be dangerous, as it could lead to you not understanding your real tolerance. If you did get your hands on some pure heroin, you would probably end up overdosing because you’re used to heroin that’s been cut down.
In recent years, Florida has experienced issues with heroin being laced with fentanyl, causing many accidental deaths.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It’s a prescription drug that’s used to treat people who are in severe pain. Fentanyl is also manufactured illegally.
While the effects are similar to heroin, it’s much more powerful. In fact, fentanyl can be up to 50 times more powerful than heroin.
Why Is Heroin Being Cut With Fentanyl?
The simplest reason that someone would cut heroin with fentanyl is for the money. Fentanyl is much cheaper to acquire than heroin. Since it’s so potent, a little bit of fentanyl goes a long way.
Fentanyl has become so prevalent that some bags of supposed heroin don’t even contain any heroin at all. Instead, they’re nothing but diluted fentanyl.
Some experts believe that fentanyl is being cut into heroin “at all levels.” This means dealers might acquire heroin from a supplier that’s already been cut with fentanyl. They believe they’ve been sold pure heroin and they cut that with fentanyl of their own.
Sometimes, you might end up with a bag of heroin that’s been cut with fentanyl and other substances at least a few times.
The Consequences of Fentanyl
Fentanyl has been linked to a lot of deaths in Florida and other states. The drug is especially easy to overdose on in comparison to heroin, so a lot of people are accidentally taking too much.
Fentanyl is not only stronger than heroin, but it also takes effect much quicker. If someone overdoses on fentanyl, the time window for treatment is much shorter. Many drug users are unwittingly buying fentanyl on the streets, so a lot of these overdoses are completely unexpected.
Staying Safe
If you’re a heroin addict, you should consider quitting as soon as possible. Even heroin users who have been using for decades find the recent fentanyl epidemic to be disturbing. Short of quitting heroin altogether, there are some steps you can take.
You should try and get your hands on some fentanyl test strips. These strips can tell you whether or not there’s fentanyl present in your heroin. The strips will react when it comes into contact with the drug.
If your drugs test positive for fentanyl, you can either use less of it or not use it at all.
You should also consider carrying Narcan. This is a drug that can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. If you’re an opiate addict or you’re in the company of opiate addicts, carrying Narcan could literally save someone’s life.
Getting Clean
Of course, the best way to save yourself from these heroin cuts is to get clean from the drug entirely. Consider checking yourself into a rehab facility.
Heroin is a notoriously difficult substance to detox from. When you detox with the help of medical professionals, your chances of success are much higher.
Ideally, you should consider an inpatient rehab facility. When you attend inpatient rehab, you’ll live at the rehab facility 24 hours a day. You’ll get the help you need to completely detox from heroin.
Getting clean from the drug can be a difficult experience. Throughout the process, you’ll experience a large number of unpleasant side effects.
When you check in to an inpatient rehab facility, you’ll be supervised round the clock by medical professionals who can help to alleviate those unpleasant symptoms. In some cases, they might prescribe you with medication that can help the whole process go a lot more smoothly.
Stay Away from Dangerous Heroin Cuts
Heroin is already a dangerous drug, and with the potentially fatal heroin cuts out there nowadays, you want to quit doing the drug completely. Since detoxing can be difficult to do by yourself, you’ll want to do it in under the care of patient and understanding professionals.
If you’re ready to take the first steps in kicking your heroin habit, get in contact with a rehab facility. Detoxing in an inpatient facility is your best chance of getting clean.
Do you or a loved one need a compassionate detox facility in Florida? Then get in touch with us today.