Nearly 300 people die every day from drug overdoses. Opioids are a major contributor to these overdose deaths.
news 12‘s Elizabeth Hashagen joined Dr. Jeff Reynolds to talk about drug overdoses.
A worrying trend is the shift towards intentional use of fentanyl. As more and more people became resistant to opioids like heroin, he turned to synthetic compounds that were up to 50 times more potent.
The National Center for Health Statistics says fentanyl is responsible for the majority of fentanyl overdose deaths.
Here’s what you need to know to keep your loved ones safe.
Understanding the effects of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful and fast-acting drug, both of which make it highly addictive. It works well in small doses, so it’s easy to overdose. With fentanyl, there is only a short window of time to intervene and save a person’s life during an overdose.
The best way to prevent fentanyl use is to educate your loved ones, including teenagers, about fentanyl. Aim to establish an ongoing dialogue in a short amount of time rather than one long formal conversation.