Why People Combine Meth and Fentanyl
People may intentionally be combining methamphetamine and fentanyl because fentanyl is a depressive substance that causes the user to feel tired and “low” after the initial feeling of euphoria, and meth is a stimulant that can directly combat the depressive effects of fentanyl. This is typically seen with a stimulant like meth or cocaine combined with a depressant like heroin and is known as speedballing.
Due to the incredible potency of fentanyl and high risk of drug overdoses, it is more likely, however, that an individual will be ingesting meth and fentanyl at the same time because they have obtained meth that is laced with fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is the top contributor to synthetic opioid overdose deaths in the US in 2022. This prevalence of drug traffickers lacing other illicit drugs with synthetic opioids has been seen since 2019 by the Drug Enforcement Administration and has increased exponentially since.
This is also why the DEA warns that any substance not obtained from legitimate pharmacists has a possibility of being laced with fentanyl, even non-opioid or depressive substances like benzodiazepine pills, meth, and cocaine. Fentanyl is being put into counterfeit pills being passed for every prescription narcotic available on the illicit drug market today.
The Dangers of Combining Meth With Fentanyl
The effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine on the body and central nervous system are oppositional, so when taken together, one substance can dull the effects of another. When meth is laced with fentanyl, this can cause the meth user to take more doses, increasing the amount of fentanyl in the system and leading to overdose and overdose death.
When the two substances are being taken together intentionally, whichever product is being dulled by the other will result in increasing doses, posing a risk of overdose or at the very least overload in the body, which can have catastrophic results.
In short, combining fentanyl and meth can lead to:
- Dulling the effects of one substance or the other
- Overtaking one substance or the other
- Not experiencing overdose symptoms
- Delayed symptoms of overdose
- Meth Overdose:
- Trouble breathing
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Chest pain
- Seizures
- High blood pressure
- High body temperature
- Intense hyperactivity or aggression
- Fentanyl Overdose:
- Very small pupils
- Severe respiratory depression
- Cold clammy skin
- Gray, blue, or pale skin
- Blue or purple lips and nails
- Complete stop in breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Unresponsiveness, even to pain
- Vomiting
- Choking or gurgling sounds
How To Tell if Meth Is Laced With Fentanyl
The only way to be absolutely certain that any substance is laced with fentanyl is to accurately test the drugs being laced with fentanyl test strips, but the risk of overdose is still possible if the testing process is not correctly performed.
Test strips have proven to be 96-100% effective in detecting fentanyl, but overdoses after receiving a negative test for fentanyl still occur because the whole product was not detected or the test was administered incorrectly. If a product comes in crushed or powder form, the way meth sometimes does, it is possible for fentanyl to be present in one portion of the product and not in another.
The best way to avoid fentanyl overdose is to abstain from drug abuse and using illicit products, but if that path is not the one chosen to take, fentanyl test strips are inexpensive and available for purchase online. Detailed testing instructions are also available from the purchasing site or other online forums and it is highly recommended to follow them closely and even test multiple times.
Drug Rehab for Meth and Opioids at Serenity Oaks
Addiction treatment at a drug abuse and alcohol treatment center such as Serenity Oaks Wellness Center is the best chance at recovery for someone who is struggling with substance abuse. Completing drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs is saving lives by giving individuals access to detox from addictive substances and dual diagnosis treatment to understand what mental conditions have led to substance abuse and how to prevent falling back into unhealthy patterns and coping skills for stress.
Serenity Oaks Wellness Center is a substance abuse and alcohol rehab that offers a full continuum of care for addiction to various drugs through medical detox, residential treatment, or participation in outpatient treatment such as a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program. All of our addiction treatment programs utilize both modern and alternative approaches to behavioral health therapies and are carried out by certified medical professionals.
Upon admission, patients are taken through the medical intake process and then go on to meet our team of treatment specialists who design and implement a customized care plan designed to take you on the most successful path to recovery based on your individual needs and substance abuse history. We will be with you every step of the way.
For more information, insurance verification, or to be taken through the enrollment process, our phones are answered 24/7 by knowledgeable staff who will answer any and all of your questions without hesitation or judgment. Get in touch with us today at (833) 720-0708.
