Heroin usage and overdose deaths have been rising steadily in the Carolinas for the past decade, and now there's a new drug that is being sold as heroin, or that has been mixed with heroin, called fentanyl. Local community programs have been working to prevent more overdoses in conjunction with local law enforcement, but additional funding and support is needed.
In upstate South Carolina, there have been 20 deaths from fentanyl overdoses, 14 of them in 2015. Local agencies are trying to fight against heroin and fentanyl overdoses, but existing supplies and staff are often overwhelmed. At the Phoenix Center in Greenville, South Carolina, there were 65 admissions on average in February, March and April.
Fentanyl is primarily used for treating late stages of cancer, but it is also used recreationally as an opioid. When injected directly into the bloodstream, it is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin.
When drug dealers mix the fentanyl and heroin, users still inject the amount they are accustomed to when using regular heroin, but the strength of the combined drugs cause them to overdose. Fentanyl was not even registered as a class one drug until recent months.
The problem extends into North Carolina as well. Many of the drugs are being transported on highways crossing the eastern seaboard, such as I-95 and I-85. This poses a problem for law enforcement agencies trying to prevent successful transportation of the drug. It is also creating problems within communities with violence and drug usage increasing as a result of the spike in the drug trade.
Police efforts to make sure our highways are being used for legal purposes are one step that should be made in the effort to prevent the spread of these deadly drugs. Increased efforts to reduce the gang crime that is funding the drug trade should also be put into place. Even though efforts are being made to prevent overdoses, additional support for community centers and organizations is needed to target the problem at its source rather than clean up the mess.