If you or a loved one uses illicit drugs, take steps to prevent a fentanyl overdose. Carry, use, and share fentanyl test strips, which can save lives. It can be purchased from a pharmacy (even without a prescription) or may be distributed by different organizations within your community. Fentanyl should only be prescribed by doctors who are experienced in treating pain in cancer patients. This medication should not be used to treat pain other than chronic cancer pain, especially short-term pain such as migraines or other headaches, pain from an injury, or pain after a medical or dental procedure. Fentanyl may cause serious breathing problems or death if it is used by people who are not being treated with other narcotic medications or who are not tolerant to narcotic medications.
Public health experts have long called for greater accessibility to the drug, which they describe as a critical weapon against rising overdose rates. There were more than 100,000 overdose fatalities in each of the last two years in the United States. The overdose-reversal drug should be more widely available, health experts have said. It arrives in many stores next week, no prescription necessary.
Center For Healthy Communities
No, you cannot buy fentanyl over the counter. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is only available by prescription and is typically used to manage severe pain in patients who are already opioid-tolerant. It is not available for purchase without a prescription, and attempting to obtain it illegally can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and addiction, and is only available by prescription. Fentanyl is used to manage severe pain in patients who are already opioid-tolerant, such as those with cancer or those who have recently undergone surgery.
US Department Of The Treasury
Why is Fentanyl Dangerous?
Fentanyl is extremely dangerous because of its high potency. Just a small amount can be lethal, and it is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to increase their potency. This makes it difficult for users to know exactly how much they are taking, and can lead to accidental overdoses. Fentanyl is also highly addictive, and long-term use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.
Boulder Works Program
Can You Buy Fentanyl Online?
These Strips Detect A Deadly Drug But Users Still Shoot Up
No, it is illegal to buy fentanyl online. Attempting to purchase fentanyl online is extremely dangerous, as the drug is often mixed with other substances or may not even be fentanyl at all. Additionally, buying drugs online can lead to criminal charges and legal consequences.
- The inexpensive test strips are intended to test urine for the presence of fentanyl, but can also be used to test drugs before they are consumed.
- This includes illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, etc.) as well as prescription medications (Xanax, Oxycodone, etc.).
- Additional fentanyl test kits and doses of NARCAN® will be purchased and distributed with funds made available from the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement funds.
- A new study co-led by a Rhode Island epidemiologist found that a simple drug testing strip — similar to a home pregnancy test —  accurately detected the potentially deadly opioid fentanyl in street drug samples.
- Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
The second wave, beginning in 2010, was characterized by a rapid increase in deaths due to heroin overdoses. The third wave began in 2013, at which point Fentanyl became a leading cause of overdose deaths [3]. Now, in 2020, we are in what is being called the 4th wave of the opioid crisis—stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine or depressants like benzodiazepines combined with opioids [4,5,6,7]. Syringe service programs provide support, information, naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies to people who use drugs, including people who take pills, smoke, inject, and more. Please contact your local public health authority (link) to learn more about services nearest to you. Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs that come in powder form.
FAQs
If an overdose is due to fentanyl then multiple bolus injections of naloxone or even continuous infusions may be needed to reverse the opioid action. If you switch from using lozenge to using other forms of fentanyl, you will need to use a different dose. Many forms of fentanyl are given at lower doses than the lozenges. If you use the same dose of each medication, you may have life-threatening overdose symptoms. Fentanyl patches are applied to the skin to treat moderate to severe chronic pain around the clock. Fentanyl patches are used when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
- Can you buy fentanyl over the counter? No, fentanyl is only available by prescription.
- Is fentanyl dangerous? Yes, fentanyl is extremely potent and can be lethal in small doses. It is also highly addictive.
- Can you buy fentanyl online? No, it is illegal to buy fentanyl online.
- What should I do if I or someone I know is struggling with fentanyl addiction? Seek professional help immediately. Fentanyl addiction can be treated with a combination of medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapy.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl addiction, seek professional help immediately. Fentanyl addiction can be treated with a combination of medication-assisted treatment and behavioral therapy. Don’t try to quit on your own, as this can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. With the right help, recovery is possible.
