According to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, New York State’s heroin crisis is worsening with the presence of fentanyl in the illicit drug market.
Fentanyl has been identified in the illicit drug market throughout New York State, as well as in neighboring states and Canadian provinces. While strengths of street drugs are hard to compare, it is known that pharmaceutical fentanyl is at least 50-100 times more potent than heroin or morphine.
Fentanyl or one of its various analogs can be mixed with heroin or sold as heroin. Because of this, it may be far more potent than buyers may realize. Fentanyl is being illicitly produced in pill form and sold as a variety of prescription drugs. It may also be mixed with cocaine. Fentanyl is undetectable by sight, smell, or taste. An overdose involving fentanyl can be reversed with naloxone, however multiple doses may be necessary.
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