Introduction
People have been overdosing on the powerful opioid Fentanyl recently. Finding practical answers requires understanding the issue and how it presents itself within the community. All facets of the criminal justice system should be included in the solutions. It might be useful to look at solutions from different jurisdictions. The criminal justice system can help with this issue in a few different ways. One way is by increasing awareness of the dangers of Fentanyl. This can be done by working with the media to get the word out about the risks of the drug. It is also important to educate people who may be at risk of using the medicine.
Background to the Topic
In comparison to morphine, Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid analgesic that is 50–100 times more potent. It is a category II prescription medicine frequently prescribed to individuals experiencing extreme pain or discomfort following surgery. Fentanyl has a high potential for misuse and overdose, though, and in recent years, overdose fatalities have increased significantly. According to NIDA (2021, June 1), the fact that Fentanyl is increasingly being blended with or sold as other narcotics such as heroin or cocaine is a major contributing factor to the rise in Fentanyl overdoses. This frequently occurs without the drug user’s knowledge, which raises the danger of an overdose.
Fentanyl is further produced in secret labs and distributed on the illicit market. Fentanyl has considerable potential for misuse and addiction, though. According to Chuck (2022), Fentanyl is often sold on the black market as a street drug and is sometimes mixed with heroin or cocaine to increase its potency. This can be extremely dangerous, as it increases the risk of overdose. In fact, Fentanyl is one of the most commonly overdosed-on drugs in the United States (2022, August 22). The frequency of Fentanyl-related fatalities in the United States more than doubled between 2013 and 2016, with more than 18,000 Fentanyl-related overdoses in 2016 alone (Chuck, 2022). Thus, the wider populace needs to be better educated on the dangers of Fentanyl.
Dangers Associated with Fentanyl
Given how potent Fentanyl is, even a tiny dose can be fatal. Due to that, it is exceedingly difficult to regulate, and individuals frequently unintentionally overdose. According to NIDA (2021), Fentanyl has a potency of up to 50 times greater than heroin and up to 100 times more than morphine. Even little quantity can be fatal. Fentanyl is extremely strong, making it quite simple to overdose on it. In actuality, most accidental overdoses of Fentanyl occur. According to DEA (2022, August 22), the fact that Fentanyl is frequently used to cut other narcotics, including heroin, might make it considerably worse. Due to its high potency, Fentanyl is commonly used to cut other substances. This indicates that consuming medicines that include Fentanyl increases the chance of overdosing. It is particularly riskier since it is hard to determine how much Fentanyl is in a certain batch of medications.
Because Fentanyl is often smuggled into the nation, it is challenging to detect and manage. According to Chuck (2022), Fentanyl is frequently trafficked into the country due to its legal status. This makes it challenging to monitor and manage. Since the quality of the medications is unknown, there is also a larger danger of overdosing. Fentanyl addicts to other narcotics are frequently lured to it. People in pain often take Fentanyl, which makes it challenging to convince them to stop. According to DEA (2022, August 22), Fentanyl is frequently used by people in pain since it is so good at reducing discomfort. Due to this, getting people to quit using it is challenging. Additionally, since they are in agony, they might be unable to manage how much Fentanyl they take, making them more prone to overdose on it.
Solutions to the Fentanyl overdose
Increase public awareness of the risks posed by Fentanyl. Fentanyl users have a significant risk of overdose due to the above reasons. According to Chuck (2022), Overdoses can sometimes be lethal. The general people need to be educated more about the risks posed by Fentanyl. The general population and those in danger of taking Fentanyl should be the focus of this teaching. According to Comer et al. (2019), to prevent taking Fentanyl, the general population must be aware of its risks. To enable them to decide whether or not to use Fentanyl, those at risk of doing so must be aware of the risks.
Expand the availability of Naloxone, a drug that can stop an overdose. A medicine called Naloxone can be used to prevent an opioid overdose, including one from Fentanyl. It is a medicine that can save lives and is secure and efficient. In order to make Naloxone more accessible to those who require it, access to it must be expanded. There are several approaches to making Naloxone more widely available. According to Chuck (2022), one method is making it accessible over the counter. Another strategy is to distribute it via neighborhood associations. Funding for opioid addiction treatment and recovery programs should be increased. According to Susan et al. (2015), addiction to opioids is a significant issue. Opioid addicts require medical attention and therapy in order to heal. Programs for treatment and recovery are regrettably frequently underfunded. This implies that those in need of assistance might not be able to acquire it. Funding for treatment and rehabilitation programs must be increased in order for more people to receive the necessary service.
Boost research funding for innovative opioid addiction therapies. New and improved opioid addiction therapies are required. According to DEA (2022, April 06), the current treatments are not always successful. Additionally, they frequently have negative effects that discourage users from using them. It is critical to enhance financing for studies into cutting-edge opioid addiction therapies. New and improved treatments that are more efficient and have fewer negative effects may result from this study. Spend more money on law enforcement initiatives to hunt down Fentanyl distributors. According to Susan et al. (2015), illegal sales of Fentanyl are frequent. It is frequently mixed with other substances by drug traffickers, making it extra riskier. Funding for law enforcement initiatives to go after drug traffickers supplying Fentanyl must be increased. Fentanyl availability will be decreased, as a result, reducing the likelihood of being used.
To stop the manufacture and export of Fentanyl, work with China. China is a common producer of Fentanyl. After then, it is transferred to other nations, where it is illegally marketed. According to Chuck (2022), it is crucial to cooperate with China in order to stop the manufacture and export of Fentanyl. Fentanyl availability will be reduced, as a result, reducing the likelihood that it will be used. Pass more stringent legislation governing the prescription of opioids. Opioids are frequently administered to treat pain for those suffering. According to Susan et al. (2015), however, they may be addicting and are commonly abused. More stringent legislation governing the prescription of opioids must be passed. This will lessen access to opioids and decrease the likelihood that individuals will use them.
Moreover, implementation of policies that govern the distribution of drugs will lessen the demand for opioids. To decrease the usage of opioids, their demand must be reduced. To lower the need for opioids, a variety of measures may be put in place. These regulations can cover a wide range of efforts, including prevention, treatment, and education. According to Susan et al. (2015), education is crucial because it can make individuals more aware of the dangers associated with opiate usage. Because it can aid those who are addicted to opioids in recovering, treatment is crucial. Because it can lower the number of persons who use opioids, prevention is vital.
Examples of Solutions in Other Jurisdictions
The CDC in the U.S. has developed a public awareness campaign called “Stop Overdoses” to inform people about the risks associated with Fentanyl and other opioids. In Australia, the government has established a nationwide Naloxone program that offers the drug to anyone who could overdose free. According to Susan et al. (2015), the government of Canada has expanded financing for opioid addiction treatment and recovery programs. The U.K. government has pledged to increase funding for research into novel opioid addiction therapies twofold. The U.S. and China have been collaborating to stop the manufacturing and export of Fentanyl. According to Mayor et al. (2022), some states in the U.S. have established stronger legislation governing the prescription of opioids. The Canadian government has put laws in place to lessen the demand for opioids.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of opioids is increasing day by day, and the consequences are fatal, but it is possible to deal with it by implementing the solutions indicated. Some countries are already making moves to provide solutions to the issue. These strategies include implementing policies that will help control the use of drugs such as opioids. These regulations will aid in preventing misuse and abuse of medication procedures.
References
Chuck G, (2022), As Fentanyl Ravages America. Web.
DEA. (2022). Fentanyl Profiling Program (FPP). Web.
DEA. (2022). Responding to Nationwide Increases in Fentanyl-Related Mass-Overdose Events. Web.
Mayor, L.N. Breed, Jenkins, B. and Scott.W.(2022). City Officials Detail Efforts to Target Open-Air Drug Dealing. San Francisco Digital Services team. Web.
NIDA. (2021). Fentanyl Drug Facts. Web.
Susan S, and Traci G (2015), Detecting Fentanyl Saving Lives. Web.