Entry #8 Another Problem Affecting Our Community

Recently, I have been researching more and more about this deadly poison we hear so much about in the news. Fentanyl. I am around many who claim the hospitals' fault for releasing and using such a drug, as well as what the media says about fentanyl, which is mostly its horrific effects of abuse. So, I'm going to make this my personal log of what I have learned about this controversial drug. 


First, what is fentanyl? Fentanyl is a man-made opioid drug. It is 100 times stronger than morphine and is one of the most highly addictive drugs ever. Fentanyl is a chemically made synthetic drug of opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. The increase in fentanyl abuse began in 2005 and has multiplied significantly over the years. The Consumer Shield states, "In 2005, opioid-involved deaths—including fentanyl—accounted for just 5.8% of all drug overdose fatalities. By 2023, that share had soared to over 69%." Fentanyl slows breathing and doesn't allow oxygen to get to the brain. Fentanyl makes your mood erratic and unstable. One can build a tolerance to the drug, and it takes larger doses to get the same euphoric effect. Fentanyl can easily be mixed with other drugs, including marijuana, because it is cheaper to do so. As much as 2 milligrams of fentanyl could kill someone, depending on their body type. Two milligrams is equivalent to a couple of grains of salt. The dependence on the drug can be so strong because of the strong withdrawal from using it. According to the CDC, fentanyl is one of the leading killers of men and women between 18-45.        
                                                    
                      

Fentanyl has taken many lives; over a quarter million Americans have died from overdose since 2021, according to USAFacts.com. This article states that Fentanyl has taken more lives than overdoses on heroin and prescription drugs. Until I lost a family member to this drug, I didn't understand how wicked and serious this drug is. I once heard a well-known Dr. Gabor Mate quote," Don't ask an addict why the addiction, ask them why the pain?" This experience has taught me to love those struggling even more so and to have a greater compassion for those we see on the streets of Phoenix. Drug abuse, especially the abuse of fentanyl, has the effect of numbing pain beyond the physical. Getting the help we need for any situation we are in, whether it's finding a job after high school to an addiction, should be pushed more in our communities. A more serious blog, but here is what I have learned, and I hope this brings even a slightly greater awareness.


Fentanyl Addiction Hotline: 24/7 Fentanyl Abuse Helpline


  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Entry #2 Mini Destination Bucket List

Image
 Well, I'd like to write about what places I want to travel to one day. This will be my personal bucket list I'll share. In the previous entry, I wrote about my love for learning, which I have even turned into a hobby when I am not doing it for serious reasons. Anyways, I talked about how I have picked up a love for learning music that I can worship to in other people's languages. It makes me feel united with different people and cultures I have never met, having being here in the desert of Arizona. It's a great feeling, and I have accumulated a playlist full of different languages. This leads me to this next entry as to where I would like to actually travel to one day. Many of the languages that I have listened to worship music in are actually not just languages I like to hear, but also the native countries of these languages, I would like to visit. The big one on my bucket list would be Israel and the Middle East. If I had my way, I would just want to travel from the ...
Read more

Learning About Blogs

Image
 Blogs are an underrated source of information and entertainment for the younger generation. Looking at the example blogs, I have never taken the time to explore blogs for general information, whether it's for lifestyle, recipes, or just to keep up with the constant changes of culture. Since I noticed my own lack of interest for blogs, it led me to think about how it isn't really popular with others my age as well. So I went to research if this idea, was actually a fact. It turns out it is a fact, although reading blogs is done by 77% of internet users ( How Many People Read Blogs? (2025 Readership Stats) , almost 40% of those readers are between the ages of 41 and 60. When I went to search for how many of those readers were the 19-24 year old age range, the percentage came out to be a whopping 10%.  The blogging website led me to another interesting fact that stated, "Only 20% of readers will read past the headline." Now that I have deduced blogs aren't as popula...
Read more

Entry #1 The Hobby of Learning

Image
 What are hobbies? When thinking of hobbies, the usual ones come to mind. Crocheting, sewing, gardening, some kind of arts and crafts, or even collecting. Well, let's face it, these kinds of hobbies are not quite ideal; they are time-consuming, and intricate. Especially, for a girl who gets busy in the hustle and bustle. These kinds of hobbies don't get picked up as easily. Hobbies aren't exactly just the things one likes to do, either; hobbies are more meaningful than that. They take the effort to acquire a new skill or find but also provide some kind of fulfillment or sense of wholeness. Generally, hiking or playing a sport would be my normal answer, but those aren't exactly hobbies; they are just what I like to do from time to time. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a hobby is this: "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation."( HOBBY Definition & Meaning - Merriam- Webster) The more I began to thin...
Read more