A Whole New Ball Game: Pressed “Prescription” Pills
Things are more risky than ever
Author foreword
I got sober nearly 5 years ago. At this time pills were considered a “safe” option in terms of risk of overdose. You knew what you were getting. You bought Xanax, you knew you were getting Xanax. You bought oxycodone, that what you were getting. It was a miserable life of addiction, but things were slightly safer. The risk of overdose was always looming, but to a smaller degree. I came across a few pressed pills near the end of my using days, and they were immediately identifiable as fake. Chalky, misshaped, etc.
A lot has changed in five short years. Most pressed pills are nearly impossible to distinguish from the real pharmaceuticals pills on the street. Legitimate pharmaceuticals are becoming harder to find on the black market. These pressed pills are mostly made with fentanyl. Since fentanyl is so powerful, slight variations in dosages can be fatal. And since these pills are produced in underground labs, the dosage tends to vary from pill to pill, batch to batch. To make things worse, fentanyl has been showing up in other pills besides ones being sold as opiates. Xanax bars can now not be trusted, and there are multiple instances of people overdosing from fentanyl laced cocaine. It seems fentanyl has made its way into every drug available on the street. I had a close friend relapse after two years of sobriety. He took one “roxicodone 30” that turned out was a pressed fentanyl pill and it killed him. It just took one. Two years of sobriety, one slip, and the world lost an amazing human. There are countless stories similar to this. College student accepts a Xanax at a party, it turns out to be pressed and it kills him. Group of people decide to by some cocaine, it’s laced, overdoses followed.
The rise in pressed prescription pills and their role in fentanyl overdoses are strongly connected. Overdoses deaths have been steadily increasing for awhile now, but have made huge jumps in the past few years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports there were less than 20,000 drug overdose deaths in 1999. Compare that to 70,630 deaths in 2019, 91,799 in 2020, and 106,699 in 2021. In recent years, there has been a concerning increase in the production and distribution of pressed prescription pills. These pills are counterfeit medications that are made to resemble legitimate prescription drugs, but they are illegally manufactured and often contain dangerous substances such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than other opioids like morphine or oxycodone. Unfortunately, fentanyl is highly addictive and has a much higher risk of overdose than other traditional opiates. One reason for the rise in pressed prescription pills is the demand for opiates in the illicit drug market. As regulations and restrictions on opioid prescriptions have become stricter, some individuals turn to the black market to obtain these drugs. Counterfeit pills can be cheaper and more easily accessible than obtaining legitimate prescription medications, making them an attractive option for those seeking opioids.
Another contributing factor is the relative ease of manufacturing these counterfeit pills. Advancements in technology and accessibility of pill presses have made it easier for illicit manufacturers to produce pills that appear identical to legitimate medications. They can then be distributed through illegal channels, often without the user realizing they are consuming a counterfeit drug. Unfortunately, the presence of fentanyl in these pressed pills has led to a significant increase in overdoses and deaths. Since fentanyl is so potent, even a small amount can be lethal. Individuals who unknowingly consume fentanyl-laced pills are at a higher risk of overdose due to its strength. To combat this issue, it is crucial to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills and educate the public about the associated risks.
About the Creator
Chris Giesen
Mental Health and Addiction Advocate. Here to post addiction resources, recovery success stories, and educational materials about mental health and addiction.
https://tndetoxcenter.com
https://detoxrehabclinic.com
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