In light of the recent opioid epidemic that’s sweeping the United States, many people are looking for alternatives to the usual heroin and Oxy fixes. Norco is a prescription painkiller that combines hydrocodone and acetaminophen, but many people are accidentally taking fake Norcos without realizing it. These fake Norcos are actually fentanyl in pill form, which resemble the Norco painkillers. Unfortunately, these fake Norcos are significantly more potent than normal Norcos and cause many people to overdose.
Overdoses and Fake Norcos
Three weeks ago, law enforcement officials in Sacramento County began seeing overdoses tied to the powerful opiate fentanyl. These people were taking fentanyl in a counterfeit pill form, which highly resembles the much less potent painkiller Norco. California health officials have already attributed the drug to 42 cases of overdoses and 10 deaths in the Sacramento area in just a matter of two weeks. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and can be deadly, even in small doses.
About Fentanyl
Fentanyl is currently the most powerful painkiller for medical treatment and its abuse skyrocketed in recent years. According to federal officials, nationwide seizures have shot up over sevenfold to 4,585, between 2012 and 2014. Law enforcement officials suspect these counterfeit pills come from China, and then Mexican cartels smuggle them through the southwestern border. They also foresee this spreading through to the east coast, where fentanyl abuse has shown to be even worse, as it has already occurred with counterfeit Xanax pills being laced with fentanyl.
The ugly opioid epidemic that swept through the country over the last decade fueled the rise in fentanyl abuse. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 28,647 people died from opioid overdoses in 2014, marking the highest death toll ever recorded. The CDC recently released new guidelines last month, alarming doctors not to prescribe opiates for patients suffering from chronic pain issues.
Addiction Treatment at Morningside Recovery
Morningside Recovery is among the leading addiction and dual diagnosis treatment providers in the country and offers various treatment options to patients struggling with prescription drug addiction and co-occurring mental illnesses. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and need help, please reach out to us anytime at 855-631-2135. Our treatment specialists will help you find the right treatment option for you and help you get on your way to a new and better way of life in recovery.
