Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, sometimes used to treat pain. It’s also extremely addictive and deadly in large quantities. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, opioid overdoses increase 33% from 2019 to 2020. If you’ve been charged with a fentanyl related drug crime, The MacNeil Firm is here to help. Our drug lawyer Bourbonnais Illinois has the experience and passion to protect you and safeguard your future. Contact us today at (708) 218-0947 or (708) 218-0947 for a consultation.
Illinois Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act has been amended recently to address the rise in Fentanyl use in the state. The new measures allow pharmacists and retail stored to sell fentanyl testing strips over the counter starting Jan. 1. In addition, a law would require schools to carry opioid antagonists, which reverse or block the effects of opioids and prevent overdoses. Although several measures have been put in place, fentanyl continues to be a problem.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent painkiller that’s often prescribed to treat people who are recovering from surgery or those with chronic pain. The drug is also used as an anesthesia, but it can be fatal if ingested in large quantities.
In small doses, fentanyl can be used safely and effectively as a painkiller for patients with severe chronic illnesses such as cancer and AIDS, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, when taken in large amounts, or when combined with alcohol or other drugs, fentanyl can cause respiratory depression leading to death by overdose within minutes of ingestion.
Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic that is used in anesthesia to provide pain relief and treat chronic pain. Fentanyl can be administered via injection or transdermal patch, which delivers it slowly over time through the skin into the bloodstream.
The drug’s potency makes it useful for treating severe pain. However, this potency also makes fentanyl very dangerous when taken improperly or in excess amounts by patients who aren’t prescribed the drug by their doctors. This situation has become increasingly common as more people get addicted to prescription opioids like OxyContin® (oxycodone) or Vicodin® (hydrocodone).
Illegal Fentanyl
Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illegally made fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a fentanyl related drug crime, the first step should be to seek medical treatment and counseling. You will also need an attorney that is dedicated to you and making sure your life is not destroyed because of this mistake. Our drug lawyer Bourbonnais Illinois is here to help.
Illegally made fentanyl is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder. Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Then, it is made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. In its liquid form, fentanyl can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies.
Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. In fact, it’s estimated that fentanyl is 100 times as potent as morphine and 50 times as potent as heroin.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is often used to cut heroin because of its potency and low cost. This can be dangerous for users who don’t know that they are purchasing drugs laced with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids.
Fentanyl is prevalent because it is cheap to produce
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s much cheaper to produce than heroin. Because of its low cost and potency, it is often used as a cutting agent for heroin or cocaine. This increases profit margins for dealers, but poses a greater risk to consumers.
Although fentanyl is trafficked across the Southwest Border and is commonly seized in the Southwestern United States, the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions maintain the greatest availability of fentanyl.
Fentanyl has been linked to many deaths in Illinois
In 2016, there were at least 1,809 fentanyl-related deaths in Illinois. That’s a 28% increase from 2015 and far higher than any other year on record. In 2020, there were 2,944 opioid overdose fatalities – more than twice the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents and more than twice the number of homicides.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 20,000 people died from synthetic opioid overdose in 2017, which is a 19% increase over 2016’s total and nearly double what it was five years ago. About 45% of those deaths involved fentanyl. However, this number may underestimate its contribution since many coroners don’t test for it unless specifically asked by law enforcement agencies or healthcare providers.
Our drug lawyer Bourbonnais Illinois can help with your fentanyl arrest
According to the Illinois State Police, there were 2,903 fentanyl arrests in 2017. That’s a 72% increase from 2016 and a staggering 1,000% increase since 2013. In Illinois, from 2020 to 2021, the amount of fentanyl seized increased by 396%.
If you need a drug lawyer Bourbonnais Illinois to help you with your drug case, The MacNeil Firm is here to help. We will review the evidence in your case, and research the case law to determine the legality of the search and seizure and what options we can pursue to acheive the best outcome for you.
