Is Fentanyl in Cocaine a Risk?

How Common is Lacing Cocaine with Fentanyl and How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

Using cocaine comes with an inherent set of risks because you never know how your body will respond to a drug that wasn’t prescribed by your doctor. Knowing where your cocaine comes from is paramount, but even then, you need to ask hard questions.

How common is it to find fentanyl in cocaine, and for that matter, is fentanyl in cocaine a risk?

Fentanyl is impossible to detect on your own without the use of test strips. It’s a growing issue among those who overdose on opioids, many of whom had no idea they were taking fentanyl. Know the signs of fentanyl overdoses (respiratory depression, constricted pupils, lack of consciousness, etc.) so that you know when to administer naloxone.

Always seek emergency help when you suspect that a loved one has overdosed.

Purpose Healing Center can help you or your loved one learn how to live a life without substance use and opioid abuse. It’s possible to live a life where you never worry about a fatal dose of fentanyl. Here is what you need to know about this dangerous combination and how to get help from us.

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How Common is it to Mix Cocaine or Crack Cocaine with Fentanyl?

When you take illegal drugs, you always run the risk of contamination with other substances. More and more frequently, crack cocaine is being laced with fentanyl, a cheaper drug that is virtually impossible to detect with the naked eye.

How likely is it that you’ll experience laced cocaine?

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the drug supply coming from South America is often mixed with dangerous synthetic opioids. What you think is pure cocaine is frequently a combination of cocaine and heroin or cocaine and fentanyl.

In some cases, dealers add fentanyl to cocaine to enhance its addictiveness without the buyer’s knowledge.

Anyone who uses opioids regularly is likely to come in contact with some form of fentanyl. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that three of four overdose deaths involve manufactured fentanyl.

As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose, and cocaine can mask the initial signs of an opioid overdose, delaying a timely medical response.

According to the CDC, drug overdose deaths involving stimulants, including cocaine, increased from 12,122 in 2015 to 57,497 in 2022.

Recent Data on Fentanyl Overdoses and Stimulant Overdoses in the United States

In 2022, close to 83,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the United States, with the majority from fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic substances.

In 2021, 78.6% of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine also involved an opioid. The mortality among opioid-cocaine co-users was higher than that among opioid-only users.

What are the Signs of Overdose from Fentanyl and Cocaine?

Fentanyl slows down breathing while cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular stress. The combination of cocaine and fentanyl can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure.

Here are the signs you should be looking for if you suspect that your loved one overdosed on fentanyl:

Decreased consciousness or awareness of surroundings
Deviations from normal breathing (usually shallow breaths and slowed down rate)
Lack of response to external stimuli
Constricted pupils
Clammy skin

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How Can You Avoid Fentanyl Overdoses and Overdose Deaths?

The easiest way to avoid an opioid overdose is simple: discontinue their use and get help for opioid use disorder.

However, you or your loved one may not be ready for this step yet. Here are some things you can do to limit overdoses from drug use.

Invest in Fentanyl Test Strips (and Use Them)

Gone are the days when you needed a fancy lab setup to figure out if your cocaine was laced with a dangerous fentanyl combination. Now, all you have to do is keep test strips on hand to ensure that a particular sample isn’t likely to lead to people overdosing.

Test every batch of cocaine you buy. You may also want to test other drugs like methamphetamine, just to be on the safe side. These fentanyl test strips may not be 100 percent accurate, but they may be the best shot at determining safety and preventing overdose deaths.

Don’t Assume Your Drug Supply is Safe

Just because you have been getting drugs from the same dealer for a long time doesn’t mean that you are out of the woods for fentanyl overdoses. Each batch of cocaine may be different, come from a new source, or travel from a new country.

Just because one dose of cocaine doesn’t have any fentanyl doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole batch is free of dangerous adulterants. Always use fentanyl test strips on every dose of cocaine (or any other drugs that you may be taking).

Know When to Go to the Emergency Department for Opioid Overdose

Substance use is a public health crisis. Community organizations are doing great work to make sure that anyone who is at high risk of overdose has access to naloxone. Administer it when needed, but ensure you also know when to go to the emergency department.

The Department of Health and Human Services has an overdose prevention strategy, but it won’t help in the moment. Instead, you should think about what you need to tell first responders. What have you taken, when did you take it, and how much?

Call 911 for emergency medical help and administer the naloxone nasal spray every few minutes until normal breathing resumes.

Getting Help for Opioids at Purpose Healing Center

It doesn’t matter if you take stimulants, Percocet, Oxycodone, fentanyl, or cocaine. Purpose Healing Center will provide treatment for opioid use disorder so that you don’t have to worry about the symptoms of any possible fentanyl overdoses. After all, even a small amount of fentanyl can have deadly results.

We offer a true medical detox where your body can rid itself of potent drugs while in the presence of a skilled medical staff. Our patients are comfortable and safe within our program, allowing them to rest more easily.

When you’re ready for the next level of care, Purpose will walk with you through residential treatment and eventually outpatient care. We provide you with the support you need to stay sober every step of the way.

Everyone receives a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to their unique needs, risks, and issues. From individual therapy to Twelve Step meetings, our framework is proven to help prevent opioid overdose.

Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By Insurance

Choose Purpose for Support to Stay Clean and Sober

Are you ready to start a journey toward healthier living where you no longer have to worry about opioid overdoses and fentanyl? Our enrollment team is ready and waiting to take your call and reserve you a spot in the appropriate treatment program, from detox to intensive outpatient.

A simple phone call even allows us to verify your insurance benefits so that you know what to expect. Purpose Healing Center is in-network with many insurance companies and accepts most AHCCCS or Medicaid plans.

Don’t wait another day to get the help you need for substance use disorder and fentanyl. Call now!