After a bust in Orange County the week of April 5, 2018, three men were accused of a counterfeit opioid operation. Authorities found thousands of homemade look-a-like oxycontin pills in their home. However, these pills did not contain the same dosage or ingredients as the typical “oxy’ pill. They were made out of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid more powerful than heroin. The article for this story can be found here.
This story is just the tip of the iceberg. Fentanyl is now one of, if not the, leading cause of drug overdoses in the country. So much so that overdose rates in America skyrocketed 21 percent last year, according to CBS News. “This is urgent and deadly,” said Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The opioid epidemic “clearly has a huge impact on our entire society.” Fatal overdoses that involved fentanyl and fentanyl-like drugs doubled in one year, to more than 19,000, mostly from illegally made pills or powder, which is often mixed with heroin or other drugs. The danger of this drug is clearly evident. It affects our friends, families, neighbors, and even celebrities, i.e Prince.
According to the newly concluded investigation of Prince’s death, he too was a victim of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. “In all likelihood, Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him,” Carver County Attorney Mark Metz said at a news conference in Chaska. “Prince’s death is a tragic example that opioid addiction and overdose deaths do not discriminate no matter the demographic,” he said. This story is becoming all too common in America. With the volatile dosage amounts of drugs out there, all it takes is one bad batch, one unknown pill, one last time, and that could be it.
Something has to change. The opioid epidemic needs to be discussed and more access to proper help is necessary. Continue your efforts, and we promise to continue ours. If you know someone struggling, or are struggling yourself with addiction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our helpline 24/7. Our qualified Admissions Counselors are standing by, ready to guide you or your loved one into a life of happy, healthy, and sober life.
At Tree House Recovery, we’re helping men find freedom from addiction. Our treatment programs create sustainable change for sustainable recovery by helping men find their strength in body, mind, and spirit. For information on our Orange County programs, call us today: (855) 202-2138
