It is a sad state of affairs that fentanyl abuse is so widespread and concerning today that we've got vending machines popping up around areas like Seattle that are offering fentanyl test strips for people to assess the quality of their products now.
Not only that but they are also giving out Narcan as well.
Narcan has been credited with helping to save many lives.
This product has been used to essentially help reverse the effects of an overdose and because of this it's a valuable tool for emergency first responders today.
Even first responders themselves can face risks when coming into contact with fentanyl on the streets.
Because of the dangers surrounding that substance there is understandable fear within the community about it circling around and this vending machine provides one way for individuals to test products they might be skeptical about.
2022 fentanyl overdose deaths outpacing 2021
Fentanyl has been declared a public health crisis in some regions because of the damage it has caused to communities around the US and elsewhere.
Fentanyl has been previously described as being some 80-100x stronger than morphine, and some 50x stronger than heroin, and many users often aren't aware that they are taking it. It can and has been added to products without the consumers knowledge.
What can help the problem? Some say increasing access to medication that might be able to help communities battle and treat opioid addiction is key. Already, there is a variety of cannabis research that has been conducted which has long suggested that marijuana could hold promise when it comes to decreasing opioid withdrawal symptoms and offering patients an alternative that they might prefer. For many around the US and elsewhere though the access and reform on restrictions still isn't where it needs to be.
Previously, researchers have found fewer overdose deaths in states which have permitted medical cannabis and embraced legal cannabis stores, compared to those who hadn't.
Whether or not cannabis is going to make any difference to the situation is still up for debate but one thing is certain and that is that the war on drugs hasn't prevented the problem or stopped it from getting worse over the years.
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The information that is posted above is not intended or implied to ever be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Sources:
https://news.yahoo.com/giving-people-tools-save-life-003322397.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/11/us/politics/overdose-deaths-fentanyl-meth.html
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/record-fentanyl-overdose-deaths-in-washington/281-d2d52708-5ca2-4140-a96b-a221d6dea1d8
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/legal-marijuana-either-eases-opioid-crisis-or-makes-it-worse-n1274071
Time to legalize all drugs. Then the quality can be controlled like alcohol. Put the potency on the label and let people decide the risk for themselves.
They say that's how Prince died. When I saw this post, I thought it was referring to Philadelphia due to the open-air drug markets that dot the city. You know things are getting bad when they need to offer those products out of vending machines. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to find one fast.
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I am not against the modern medicinal stuffs but I still prefer the natural medicine such as this cannabis. Only if people use it correctly and not abusively then we're all good. Great info!
Well, it just goes to prove that there is a pharmaceutical for every malady.