By Patrick O’Neil (RADT, MFA), Group Facilitator, Cast Treatment Centers
America is experiencing one of its worst drug epidemics in history, and opiates are at the forefront. There are literally millions of Americans addicted to opiates, and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health about 948,000 Americans reported using Heroin last year alone. Every week there are over 900 opiate-related deaths due in part to heroin and other drugs that have been laced with Fentanyl.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than Heroin and, because of its potency, Fentanyl is becoming more and more prevalent in practically every drug sold in America. Knowingly or unknowingly, addicts are using Fentanyl in record numbers. But why is fentanyl so popular?
Here are 4 Reasons Behind Fentanyl’s Deadly Rise In Popularity.
1. More Bang For The Buck: Addicts are always looking for the biggest high. Drug traffickers know that their customers want something stronger and are choosing to lace their street drugs with Fentanyl. In addition, some addicts searching for a more potent and cheaper drug have gone on to prefer Fentanyl over heroin or prescription painkillers.
Kristen Marshall, a member of the Harm Reduction Coalition in San Francisco, explains:
“For drug users, it’s just like you or I making decisions about the products we choose when we grocery shop. Fentanyl is stronger, you need less of it, and it’s cheaper. So why wouldn’t I, as somebody with limited funds, want to spend my money on something that’s a better value and therefore a better product?”
2. Some Addicts Don’t Know They Are Using Fentanyl: Fentanyl is rarely sold as fentanyl. Instead, it is often disguised as other drugs. Many dealers selling fentanyl directly to users are unaware of its presence in their supply.
A study by Dr. Sarah Mars, “Heroin Uncertainties: Exploring Users’ Perceptions of Fentanyl-Adulterated and Substituted ‘Heroin’,” found that most users don’t realize their heroin contains fentanyl.
Police in Gulfport, Mississippi, issued a warning about counterfeit Oxycodone tablets that were actually fentanyl-laced and linked to multiple overdose deaths.
The musician Prince died from an overdose after taking counterfeit pills that contained fentanyl instead of Vicodin. Prosecutor Mark Metzat stated, “In all likelihood, Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him.“
Many addicts, both famous and unknown, remain unaware of the lethal drug they are consuming. Famous as Prince are just as unaware that they are using Fentanyl.
3. It’s Cheaper To Make Than Heroin: Fentanyl is synthesized quickly in a lab, whereas heroin requires a lengthy production process:
- Heroin is derived from opium poppies, which take at least four months to mature.
- The resin extracted from these plants must undergo complex, time-consuming processing before becoming heroin.
- In contrast, fentanyl can be manufactured in a laboratory with minimal cost and effort.
The profit margins for drug traffickers are much higher with fentanyl. According to a U.S. Law Enforcement Task Force known as the Fentanyl Working Group:
- Producing one kilogram of fentanyl costs approximately $32,000.
- That same kilogram has a street value of $20 million.
Most illicit fentanyl originates from labs in China, shipped to the U.S. via Latin America, where drug traffickers mix it with heroin to maximize profits.
4. A Reaction To The Current Restriction Of Prescription Pain Medication: The opioid epidemic began in the 1990s when pharmaceutical companies falsely claimed certain pain medications were non-addictive. As a result:
- Doctors began prescribing opioids in record numbers.
- By the 2010s, more than 238 million pain medication prescriptions were written annually.
- A third of the U.S. adult population was using prescription opioids.
However, as addiction and overdose rates surged, the Department of Justice cracked down on pharmaceutical companies. As prescriptions became more challenging to obtain:
- Many users turned to heroin as an alternative.
- The American Society of Addiction Medicine found that 80% of new heroin users had previously misused prescription painkillers.
Now, 94% of these addicts have transitioned to illicit street drugs, putting them at high risk of fentanyl overdose.
The Growing Danger of Fentanyl
The rise in fentanyl abuse is fueled by its easy access, low cost, and extreme potency. Law enforcement, public health officials, and emergency responders struggle to contain the crisis as overdoses continue to surge.
Researcher Bryce Pardo, in his study “The Future of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids,” warns:
“One of the most important and depressing insights in this analysis is that however bad the synthetic opioid problem is now, it is likely to get worse before it gets better.“
Tim Pifer, Director of the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory, echoes this concern:
“You don’t know what you’re taking. You’re injecting yourself with a loaded gun.“
Final Thoughts
So, why is fentanyl so popular? Its extreme potency, low production cost, and increased demand have fueled its rapid rise in the drug market. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, more users are exposed to fentanyl, leading to a deadly wave of overdoses across the nation. Without urgent intervention, the crisis is expected to worsen, putting countless lives at risk. For those struggling with opioid dependence, seeking effective addiction treatment can be a critical step toward recovery.
