The Danger Lurking in Street Cannabis: The Rise of Fentanyl-Contaminated Products

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved for medical use as a painkiller. It is also illegally sold as a street drug. Notorious for its lethal potency, even the smallest amounts, akin to a couple of grains of sand, can be enough to cause a deadly overdose.

Individuals who are exposed to fentanyl-contaminated products may initially experience euphoria, hallucinations, drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, constipation, nausea and vomiting, muscle rigidity, and a reduced drive to breathe. These symptoms can escalate to severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, or even coma. In the event of an overdose, and without prompt medical intervention or the administration of Narcan (naloxone), a drug that can reverse fentanyl’s effects, progression can culminate in cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation), hypotension (light-headedness due to low blood pressure), bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate), and death.

Fentanyl can also severe…