September the 28th, 2023 – You’ve most likely read about the devastating fentanyl epidemic in the USA and in an array of other countries. The drug which is stronger than morphine and heroin has been being issued by pharmacists here for forty years, but Croatian fentanyl abuse has already ended two lives.
Fentanyl (sometimes referred to as fentanil), is an extremely potent synthetic piperidine opioid drug which is intended for use as an analgesic. It’s anywhere from fifty to one hundred times the strength of morphine, and should be being used to provide pain management to those who have undergone major surgery or are having treatment for cancer.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, at this moment in time, fentanyl has remained relatively cheap and easy to smuggle. When misused, it turns its addicts into “zombies”. The narcotics market has been flooded with fentanyl in many nations, and after causing utter devastation across the pond in America, it is now spreading very rapidly right here in Europe. As stated, Croatian fentanyl abuse has tragically already ended two lives.
Dangerous black market fentanyl
It usually comes in powder or tablet form. It can be smoked, snorted or injected. Small micro doses of a mere two to three milligrams, which is equal to five to seven grains of salt, can result in a severe addiction and ultimately – death. It has flooded the black market in multiple countries already.
“The biggest danger lies in the fact that it is very difficult to dose and often an individual purchasing it on the illegal drug market doesn’t actually know what they’re buying. They typically have no idea just how potent this product actually is. What is also dangerous is that this product is often mixed with other drugs – either heroin or some synthetic stimulants,” said Željko Petković, assistant director of the HZJZ (Croatian Public Health Institute) for the prevention of drug abuse.
Fentanyl is prescribed in Croatia, but kept strictly behind lock and key
Otherwise, fentanyl has been being issued legally with a prescription in Croatia for more than forty years now. It is kept strictly by pharmacists under lock and key and is available as a patch, ampoule or as a nasal spray.
