When it comes to buying any kind of product, at a certain point, the ultimate goal for most American consumers is to get the biggest bang for their buck. People who abuse drugs and alcohol are no different, and when their habits reach the point where their addictions cost them hundreds or even thousands of dollar a day, sometimes taking a risk and settling for a cheap, potent high can mean the difference between getting their daily fix or not. This is the reason that many people reach for new and cheap drugs, such as “Gray Death”.
Unfortunately, all too often, new, cheap street drugs come laced with dangerous chemicals that can raise the risk of overdose. One street drug that’s been gaining a great deal of attention over the last few months contains a dangerous mix of fentanyl and a powerful animal tranquilizer. This potent concoction has been dubbed by authorities as the “Gray Death” drug.
According to one report, Gray Death is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine and has been responsible for a spate of recent overdoses across the country.
What Is Gray Death?
The recipe for the Gray Death drug is staggering. It starts with heroin, and then can be laced with a variety of potent tranquilizers including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Fentanyl is an opioid drug that is exponentially more potent than heroin and recently made headlines as the main substance that contributed to Prince’s overdose.
To further illustrate the potential danger of the drug, many law enforcement officials have been warned not to breathe in or even touch the drug if they encounter it during a drug bust.
Street drug chemists are also adding carfentanyl to the mix, and this is even more potent and dangerous. Carfentanyl is an animal tranquilizer designed for use on large animals such as elephants and is a whopping 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.
Unfortunately, street drugs don’t come with a list of ingredients or a warning label. Many heroin addicts are buying Gray Death thinking that it is heroin and not prepared for its extreme potency. The Gray Death is so potent that often when the user falls asleep in a state of opioid-induced euphoria, the body is so tranquilized that it forgets to breathe, leading to deadly consequences.
To further illustrate the potential danger of the drug, many law enforcement officials have been warned not to breathe in or even touch the drug if they encounter it during a drug bust.
What has authorities so worried however, is how cheap it is; one hit can cost as low as $10.
Getting Clean a Sure Way to Prevent Accidental Death
While the fight against the Gray Death drug may be just beginning, medical professionals are working hard to battle the rapidly growing opioid epidemic. One study showed that over 63% of drug overdoses were a result of opioids, and whether it be an addiction to prescription drugs or heroin derivatives, many medical professionals are pushing addicts toward one of the first steps toward sobriety — getting into a drug detox program.
Drug detox is one of the most crucial steps on the road to recovery because to build a path to sobriety, an opioid addict must undergo the cleansing process to rid the body of the toxic substances that have been causing a chemical addiction.
While many addicts try to get themselves “clean” on their own, medically supervised inpatient detox has shown to be far more effective because medical staff can prescribe safe medication as well as provide a broad spectrum of psychiatric help. After completion of a drug detox program, therapy can be critical in helping unmask the reasons people abuse substances and give them the skills required to confront temptation, which can help to avoid relapse.
Tired of Living in a Cycle of Addiction?
The street drug landscape has become a dangerous scene riddled with substances that are more potent than ever, and the risk of death from street drugs has reached frightening levels. According to one report, drug overdose deaths have recently risen at the highest rate of increase ever recorded in the U.S., and it’s estimated to only get worse.
A sure way to avoid being part of the grim statistics is to get sober, and Morningside Recovery can help you take the first steps by getting you into a detox program. Our specialized addiction treatment services and addiction therapy services can help you return to a life of health and sobriety.
For more information about inpatient rehab, please call our 24/7 helpline at 855-631-2135. Morningside specialists will work with you to help find the treatment option that works for you.
