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  • 24 May 2016

While heroin use has been on the increase for some time, another drug is becoming associated more and more with overdose deaths. The drug, fentanyl, is a synthetic opiate that is similar to, but even more powerful, than morphine. It is used medically to treat severe pain, including pain after surgery, and is also prescribed for patients with chronic pain. Under the federal drug laws, it is listed as a Schedule II narcotic. This category is for drugs that are classified under the Controlled Substances Act as having a high potential for abuse and for severe physical and/or psychological dependence.

It was reported earlier this month that there has been a rise in drug overdose deaths, and that rise is being blamed on fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl use has skyrocketed, and the number of fatal overdoses attributed to the drug has tripled over the past three years.

One of the attractions to fentanyl is that it is cheap. It is inexpensive to manufacture, and is being substituted for and disguised as drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, and oxycodone, which are more expensive. The drug is also easily obtained, either on the street or online. And experts say that one of the problems with fentanyl is that the user does not really know how potent the dose will be.

Austin PD issues fentanyl warning

Our area has not been immune to the fentanyl problem. Two weeks ago the Austin Police Department issued a warning specifically addressing the fentanyl overdose issue. The warning concerns the investigation of a series of overdose deaths during the first week of May that are believed to have been related to fentanyl. The PD notes that fentanyl comes in many form – pills, powder, liquid and patches – and can be deadly in small amounts. The same day that the warning was issued, a woman was found dead in East Austin from a suspected drug overdose.

The police are attempting to find the source of the fentanyl, and to discover the connections, if any, between the overdose victims.

Law Office of David D. White, PLLC
1201 Rio Grande Street #200
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3737

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608 W. 12TH ST.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 369-3737
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