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Over the last decade, it has become increasingly common for heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine to be cut with fentanyl—often without the user knowing. This deadly mix is becoming a leading cause of overdose deaths. And surprisingly, even just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on various factors such as body size.
So, why do dealers cut other drugs with fentanyl? What exactly is fentanyl? And why is it so dangerous? Below, we explore the answers to these questions and more.
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What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid legally used for pain relief and anesthesia. Recreationally, however, fentanyl is a different story. In the medical setting, any drug administration is closely monitored and dosed. On the streets, it’s becoming increasingly common practice to lace other drugs with fentanyl to reduce costs and make drugs more potent.
Like other opioids, it binds to the opioid receptors in the body, which reduces pain and increases feelings of euphoria. In other words, it impacts the regions of the brain involved in pain and emotional regulation.
The problem with fentanyl, however, is its potency1. It’s considered to be 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more than heroin. This makes it particularly easy to overdose on, even with just a tiny amount.
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Why Dealers “Cut” Fentanyl
There are more than a few reasons for this rise in fentanyl, particularly making its way into drugs where the person using it has no idea. First and foremost, it’s primarily driven by money2.
Its high potency means that small amounts can stretch larger quantities of other substances, significantly increasing profits. For dealers, it represents a cost-effective way to increase their product’s perceived strength.
On top of the above, adding fentanyl is also easy to conceal due to the small amounts necessary to achieve highly potent effects. This makes transportation easier, allowing dealers to hide smuggled drugs without as much effort.
Fentanyl can also make its way into other drugs through cross-contamination. These black-market drugs aren’t regulated; this means that the way these drugs are cut or processed doesn’t involve strict rules or guidelines. If someone uses the same equipment with fentanyl and other drugs, there is a risk of contamination, leading fentanyl to end up where it's not supposed to be.
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Drugs Commonly Cut With Fentanyl
Fentanyl has been increasingly found in a wide range of illicit drugs—including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills, and more. The most common drugs that are cut with fentanyl include:
Heroin
Heroin is often mixed with fentanyl3 to make it stronger and cheaper to produce. But most people using it have no idea it’s been laced—making overdoses more likely and far more dangerous.
Cocaine & Meth
People who use stimulants like cocaine or meth are especially at risk when fentanyl is involved. Since they aren’t used to opioids and don’t expect them. On top of that, mixing an upper with a powerful downer like fentanyl puts extra stress on the heart and can be very dangerous.
Counterfeit Prescription Pills
One of the most alarming trends is the rise of fake prescription pills4. These pills look just like real medications—like Xanax, Percocet, or Adderall—but they’re actually made with fentanyl. That makes them especially dangerous because people think they’re taking something safe and familiar, not realizing it could be deadly.
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Even party drugs like MDMA (Ecstasy) have been found laced with fentanyl. This is especially risky in social or festival settings, where people might be mixing different substances without realizing how dangerous the combination can be.
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Cutting With Fentanyl: The Invisible Dangers
Fentanyl can lead to life-threatening situations and even death. According to the CDC, synthetic opioids have become the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths in the United States. In 2021 alone, over 70,000 Americans died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids.
Overdosing on fentanyl can occur within mere minutes, making each second critical. While naloxone (Narcan) remains effective against fentanyl overdoses, stronger doses or multiple administrations may be required compared to other opioid overdoses due to fentanyl’s high potency.
A fentanyl overdose may involve:
- Slow or stopped breathing
- Blue lips or fingernails
- Small pupils
- Cold/clammy skin
- Choking/gurgling sounds
- Unconsciousness
- Disorientation/confusion
- Extreme drowsiness
- Inability to wake up/get up
If you notice the signs, immediately call 911 and administer naloxone. If they aren’t breathing, you may be required to perform CPR; the emergency operator on the phone can instruct you how to do this if you haven’t had any previous training. Your actions in these critical few minutes could save a life.
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Getting Help for Addiction With FRC
At Freedom Recovery Centers (FRC), we understand the challenges of fentanyl addiction. However, we’ve helped countless individuals overcome addiction and come out the other side. Your best days are still ahead of you, and you don’t need to go through this alone. We’re here to help.
Call us at 804-635-3746 or fill out our online form. We answer our phone lines 24/7.
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