What Are Synthetic Opioids And Why Are They So Dangerous?

By Author: Addiction2142
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Opioids are prescription medications used to relieve pain, but over the years, their use has become alarming. The over-prescription and high addiction rate of opioids have led to a severe public health crisis in the United States. Synthetic opioids are a relatively new and dangerous group of opioids that are causing widespread concern. While many people have heard the term “synthetic opioids,” they might not know what they are or why they’re so dangerous. In this blog post, we’ll cover what synthetic opioids are, why they’re so addictive, and what dangers they pose.

What are Synthetic Opioids?
Synthetic opioids are a class of medications designed to mimic the effects of natural opioids like morphine and oxycodone. These drugs are typically used to relieve severe pain, such as cancer pain or pain from surgery. Synthetic opioids are created in a lab, rather than being derived from the opium poppy plant-like natural opioids. These institutions create drugs that mimic natural opioids and hence cause an intense rush and euphoria - which is what makes them addictive.

Types of Synthetic Opioids
The ...
... most commonly known synthetic opioids include Fentanyl and Tramadol. Fentanyl, in particular, is perhaps the most dangerous opioid of them all. It is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and is often used to treat severe pain. Fentanyl is also used illegally as a street drug and is mixed with other drugs, putting people at an even higher risk of overdose. Tramadol, while not as potent as fentanyl, is still highly addictive and has contributed to opioid overdose deaths.

Why are Synthetic Opioids So Addictive?
Synthetic opioids are highly addictive because of their potency and the intense pleasure and rush they provide. Even individuals who use them as prescribed for pain management can become addicted to the drug's effects. Addiction can set in quickly, leading individuals to take more of the drug to experience the same effects. This behavior can lead to overdose.

The Dangers of Synthetic Opioids
Synthetic opioids have been linked to fatal overdoses, and the number of deaths related to these compounds is rapidly rising. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, synthetic opioids are responsible for more overdose deaths than any other opioid. Overdose can result from taking too much of the drug or from mixing synthetic opioids with other substances that potentiate their effects, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Additionally, users may not know they are taking synthetic opioids, as many dealers are mixing them with other drugs, increasing the chances of overdose.

Synthetic opioids pose a significant risk to public health and the opioid epidemic. These drugs are highly addictive and potent, leading to overdose and death. Understanding the dangers of synthetic opioids is an important step in preventing unnecessary deaths. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, seek professional help. Always use opioid medications as directed by a physician and never mix prescription drugs with alcohol or other drugs. Opioid addiction is a complex issue, and it takes a multifaceted approach to address it. Lives depend on it.

How Dangerous is the Illicit Use of Synthetic Opioids?
In 2016, there have been more than 64,000 overdose deaths from illegal drugs and prescription painkillers in the US, and 20,000 of this number were from people who overdosed on these drugs. This is double from the rate 10 years ago. This number has also been steadily increasing since 2002. In 2017, the number of synthetic opioid deaths has also increased to 28,000.

Majority of these overdose deaths are associated with illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

How are Synthetic Opioids Abused as a Drug?
These man-made drugs were used by drug trafficking organizations as a “fake version” for other illegal drugs. For example, fentanyl is typically sold on the street as a counterfeit for more popular opioid drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone. Since these drugs are much more potent that other naturally occurring opioid drugs, these counterfeit drugs turn out to be more powerful and faster-acting.

To make cheaper and stronger drugs available on the illegal drug market, famous powder drugs like heroin and cocaine are also mixed (or “cut”) with cheaper types like fentanyl and carfentanil. They also tend to strengthen the effects of heroin.

There have also been variations to the drug fentanyl which include: acetylfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, and carfentanil. These drugs are found to be much more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil, which is the most potent of all of these, is estimated to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine. They are also much harder to detect and because of this, can be much more easily smuggled.

Do Synthetic Opioids Have Adverse Interactions When Mixed with Other Substances?

Like with naturally-occurring opioids, mixing these drugs with alcohol or with other sedatives can compound their effects (opioids, whether synthetic or naturally-occurring are also sedatives), which can lead to a coma or respiratory failure and death.