Stimulant Users Face Deadly Risks in Opioid Epidemic’s Fourth Wave

Pawtucket: In a quiet corner near a store offering free cellphones, J.R. was trying to stay safe while using crack cocaine. He showed a reporter how he checks his supply to avoid overdosing.

He had just taken a break from using and was eager to test a small piece of what he hoped was pure cocaine. J.R. believed that if it smelled sweet, it might be laced with fentanyl, which is a huge risk. He took a cautious puff and felt relieved when he didn’t detect any sweetness.

But this method is risky and can lead to fatal mistakes. Experts warn that you can’t rely on smell or taste to determine if drugs are safe. Josiah Rich, an addiction specialist, emphasized that many people will die today because they unknowingly consume cocaine mixed with fentanyl.

The opioid crisis has evolved over the years. It started with prescription painkillers, then moved to heroin, and now we’re seeing a dangerous mix of stimulants and fentanyl. This new trend is particularly alarming because many stimulant users don’t realize they’re at risk of opioid overdose.

To stay safe, users can use fentanyl test strips, which are a simple way to check for the presence of fentanyl. These strips are affordable and often available for free from local organizations.

Recent studies show that the combination of stimulants and fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths. This issue is especially severe among Black and African American communities in the Northeast.

Fentanyl is unpredictable, and its potency can vary widely in the illegal market. This makes it incredibly dangerous for users who think they’re using pure cocaine.

Many people mistakenly believe they’re safe when using stimulants, which can lead to tragic outcomes. A recent study found that over 60% of stimulant users in Rhode Island had unknowingly consumed fentanyl-laced drugs.

In 2022, Rhode Island had one of the highest rates of cocaine-related overdose deaths in the country. The crisis is affecting users who think they can avoid fentanyl by switching to pills, as seen in the tragic story of Jennifer Dubois’ son, Cliffton.

Cliffton struggled with addiction and thought he was making safer choices by using pills instead of street drugs. Unfortunately, he ended up taking counterfeit Adderall that was laced with fentanyl, leading to his untimely death.

A simple fentanyl test strip could have saved his life, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and harm reduction strategies in this ongoing crisis.