WEBVTT 00:00:34.189 --> 00:00:36.469 Hey everybody, welcome back. It's your host, 00:00:36.609 --> 00:00:38.710 Neogentrics here with Food for Thought, Thoughts 00:00:38.710 --> 00:00:41.450 that Fit for You, A Dark Cancer Production Season 00:00:41.450 --> 00:00:44.750 3. And we're back with another episode. Today 00:00:44.750 --> 00:00:47.049 we're going to be talking about these synthetic 00:00:47.049 --> 00:00:50.509 opioids. I have four of them listed here. Last 00:00:50.509 --> 00:00:53.149 time we talked about one of the most common but 00:00:53.149 --> 00:00:55.689 most dangerous organic opioids. But today we're 00:00:55.689 --> 00:00:58.750 going to talk about two, three, maybe four of 00:00:58.750 --> 00:01:01.539 them. of the synthetic ones, but we're going 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:03.600 to also cover the most dangerous one of them 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.799 all, fentanyl. And we're going to go ahead and 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:07.260 get started with that right quick in a few seconds. 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:08.620 Now, just to give a quick update, there's been 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:10.099 a lot of stuff going on in my life that have 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:11.819 been delaying me from doing some of the stuff 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:13.319 that I would love to do. But like I said, I plan 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:15.019 to be making more episodes more often for each 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:16.560 and every one of you. So again, thank you for 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:18.640 your time and thank you for listening in. And 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:35.269 I hope you enjoy. So let's get started. All right, 00:01:35.329 --> 00:01:37.450 all right, all right, everybody. Let's get started. 00:01:38.829 --> 00:01:42.329 First up on the docket is the synthetic opioid. 00:01:42.469 --> 00:01:45.409 Now, if you remember, real quick before we go 00:01:45.409 --> 00:01:47.049 any further, that we have been talking about 00:01:47.049 --> 00:01:50.370 opioids for the last couple of days. And we talked 00:01:50.370 --> 00:01:52.450 about the difference between organic and synthetic. 00:01:52.849 --> 00:01:56.829 And the fact that the synthetic ones are man 00:01:56.829 --> 00:01:59.269 -made. And they're just as dangerous, if not 00:01:59.269 --> 00:02:01.189 more dangerous, depending on which one it is. 00:02:01.930 --> 00:02:05.700 Regardless of that fact, though. for human consumption 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:08.620 in large quantities. So we're going to pick up 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:12.479 where we left off with the synthetic opioids, 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.460 starting with hydrocodone. It's similar to oxycodone, 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:19.580 except this one is a synthetic opioid drug, okay? 00:02:20.490 --> 00:02:23.169 It's used to relieve moderate to severe pain, 00:02:23.349 --> 00:02:25.250 and it's often combined with other medications 00:02:25.250 --> 00:02:29.590 such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It's also 00:02:29.590 --> 00:02:31.789 available in various formulations, including 00:02:31.789 --> 00:02:35.669 tablets, capsules, and syrups. So it just depends 00:02:35.669 --> 00:02:43.250 on how you receive it. Typically, you would get 00:02:43.250 --> 00:02:47.270 this from a doctor, but you can buy it over the 00:02:47.270 --> 00:02:51.360 counter in small quantities. It works by binding 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.699 specific receptors in your brain and the spinal 00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:57.819 cord, which then reduces the sensations of pain 00:02:57.819 --> 00:03:01.219 that you feel. And like oxycodone, hydrocodone 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:03.360 is also a schedule two controlled substance, 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:05.780 which means it also has a high potential for 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:10.300 abuse and dependency depending on how it's used 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:14.360 or if it's misused. And if misused, and continuously 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:17.379 so, it can lead to addiction, overdose, death. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:22.240 Same similar stuff as the other one. Okay. It's 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.020 crucial for patients to understand that the risks 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:27.379 associated with taking hydrocodone, and that, 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:30.580 like I mentioned before, with the other one, 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:33.300 they must follow the doctor's instructions very 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:37.360 carefully, to a T if they can, and it should 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:41.539 only be taken as prescribed. Never shared recreationally, 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:45.080 never shared regardless to anybody, especially 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:47.199 someone who you don't even know if the person 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:52.599 will have side effects to it that you don't have 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.080 just because it didn't affect you the same way. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.020 And on the topic of side effects, it's important 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:01.419 to be aware of potential side effects of hydrocodone. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.180 Much similar to oxycodone, it includes nausea, 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:07.979 vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, and dizziness. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.879 Like I mentioned before, if you experience any 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.360 serious side effects, be sure to contact your 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:18.699 doctor right away. The reason I bring this up 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:21.100 is because hydrocodone is a very, very, very, 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.560 very powerful opioid pain medication. And it's 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:29.540 commonly prescribed for those type of pain, like 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:31.100 moderate to severe pain. Like if you've been 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.920 in a wreck, an accident, been hit by a truck. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:41.069 Yes, that's a scenario apparently nowadays. anything 00:04:41.069 --> 00:04:44.550 of the sort. But like anything else, there have 00:04:44.550 --> 00:04:47.889 been a high number of unfortunate incidents reported 00:04:47.889 --> 00:04:51.509 in the recent years that involve hydrocodone. 00:04:51.610 --> 00:04:54.470 And like I said, one of the major issues with 00:04:54.470 --> 00:04:58.449 it is the addiction and overdosing of it. So 00:04:58.449 --> 00:05:02.769 with that understanding, okay. It's a highly 00:05:02.769 --> 00:05:05.410 addictive substance, right? And long -term use 00:05:05.410 --> 00:05:07.810 can lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms. 00:05:08.329 --> 00:05:12.550 And when I say dependency, I mean it can lead 00:05:12.550 --> 00:05:15.389 to an addictive type, characteristic type behavior 00:05:15.389 --> 00:05:22.829 with a need or drug -seeking behavior that the 00:05:22.829 --> 00:05:25.129 person is unable to control. Meaning they are 00:05:25.129 --> 00:05:31.040 going to try to get this drug. no matter what 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.860 it takes, regardless of what they have to do. 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:37.759 Now, with that being said, the prevalence... 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:41.699 Actually, let me go ahead and say it like this. 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:45.819 There's another issue. Unrelated to everything 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.759 that I've just been spouting for the last four 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:52.160 minutes, is the prevalence of counterfeit or 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.459 illegally obtained hydrocodone. The reason I 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:58.459 say this, much like everything else on this list, 00:06:00.610 --> 00:06:04.550 It can be mixed with other drugs, including fentanyl, 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:07.170 which increases the risks of overdosing and people 00:06:07.170 --> 00:06:09.829 becoming addicted to it. And the people who purchase 00:06:09.829 --> 00:06:11.810 these drugs, especially on the street, will never 00:06:11.810 --> 00:06:15.389 know whether or not this drug is pure or not, 00:06:15.509 --> 00:06:18.810 okay? Which has led to one of the highest concentrations 00:06:18.810 --> 00:06:22.589 of the opioid crisis here in America. But it's 00:06:22.589 --> 00:06:26.160 spreading. to high numbers of people with a large 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.319 number of people ODing on it to the point where 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:33.259 they die every single year. So if you know someone 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:35.620 who's taking it and they don't have a reason 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:37.920 to be taking it, you need to find them help. 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:39.740 Don't try to stop them yourself because that 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:42.040 puts you and them at risk, but you should try 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.740 to seek help for them and try to convince them 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:47.839 to go to counseling of some sort or go to therapy 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:52.759 to help them, you know, get over it, okay? So 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:55.439 just to recap, it's a very powerful drug. It's 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:58.100 highly addictive. It's usually used for managing 00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:01.399 moderate to severe pains. There are high OD risks 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:05.300 with it, and there are high rates of addiction, 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:09.079 overdose, and death, along with counterfeit or 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:11.699 illegally obtained hydrocodone that can have 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:14.360 severe or serious side effects or high -level 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.540 dependencies on it because it's mixed with something 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:38.199 else. Okay, so we got hydrocodone out of the 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:40.240 way. Like I said, most of the information about 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:42.699 it is pretty similar to oxycodone. I don't need 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:45.040 a full episode on that. Just about five minutes 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:47.399 and that was fine. Now let's move on to something 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:49.839 that's a little more potent, if not more dangerous 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:54.720 than oxycodone or hydrocodone. And that would 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.660 be the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Okay, fentanyl. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.680 like, uh, hydrocodone is also a synthetic opioid 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:07.259 that is, and I might, I'm not exaggerating this 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:11.399 when I say this, it is 50 to a hundred times 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:15.699 more potent than morphine. Okay. For those of 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:17.379 you who know what morphine is, if you don't, 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:19.740 uh, check out the episode, I'm probably do later 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:22.279 on what morphine and other drugs similar to that 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:26.899 is, but for now, uh, it is. basically prescribed 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:31.639 for extreme to severe pain such that it's caused 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.100 by cancer or surgery so it's not likely to be 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.840 something that doctors are going to give out 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:40.519 like candy i promise you there has to be a severe 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:42.559 need or urgency for them to want to give this 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.100 out to anybody now like i said it's it's prescribed 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:52.159 for severe or extreme pain and such as that it's 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:54.919 caused by cancer surgery and is often used in 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:58.700 the form of a patch or a lozenge for obvious 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:02.059 reasons. However, it can also be illegally produced 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:04.700 and sold, often mixed with other drugs such as 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:07.139 heroin or cocaine, which we'll talk about on 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:11.000 another episode. This illegal use has led to 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.220 significant increases in overdose deaths over 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:16.059 the last couple of years, and like most of the 00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:18.419 other opioids, fentanyl works by binding to the 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:22.580 body's opioid receptors. which are found in the 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:25.820 brain and spinal cord. And this binding reduces 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:28.799 the perception of pain and can also cause feelings 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:32.340 of euphoria, almost like LSD. However, because 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:35.539 of its potency, even small amounts of fentanyl 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:38.799 can cause respiratory depression, which can lead 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.220 to an instant overdose and death, which is why 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:44.720 when it's prescribed, it's prescribed in the 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:49.740 smallest of doses. And I'm talking about smaller 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:53.600 than milligrams, because depending on how much 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.559 you need and depending on how severe the pain 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:57.620 is will determine how much the doctor gives you, 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:59.960 because depending on your body will determine 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:02.919 how your body process it and whether or not it 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:05.620 can get to the point where your body either needs 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:07.919 it to survive or you start becoming dependent 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.639 on it, which they don't want. So, again, this 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:12.700 is something that they rarely will ever give 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:17.519 you. Okay. Fentanyl overdose symptoms typically 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.919 include slow or shallow breathing, confusion, 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:24.820 drowsiness, small pupils. If someone is suspected 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:27.399 of having fentanyl overdoses, they should be 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:31.480 given naloxone. It's a medication that can reverse 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:33.940 the effects of opioids and seek medical attention 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:36.179 immediately. With that being said, by the way, 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:39.850 because... Even though this does reverse some 00:10:39.850 --> 00:10:44.049 of the effects, it will not make them non -codependent. 00:10:44.409 --> 00:10:48.769 This takes time. The use and abuse of fentanyl 00:10:48.769 --> 00:10:52.129 has become a public health crisis in many countries. 00:10:52.389 --> 00:10:55.049 And the Center for Disease Control, or the CDC, 00:10:55.429 --> 00:11:02.840 estimates that more than 31 ,000... overdose 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:06.299 deaths in the united states in 2008 alone uh 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:09.879 involved synthetic opioids which included fentanyl 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:13.340 which has for whatever reason resurfaced at the 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:16.120 end of 2022 the beginning of this year and i 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:19.879 have no idea what that's about but that just 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.100 means that you need to be very very careful when 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:24.460 going outside and going places especially when 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:26.580 picking up random stuff on the sides of the road 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:29.700 that looks like they should be harmless but they 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:32.799 probably aren't The government and public health 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:34.419 organizations are working to raise awareness 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:36.379 about the dangers of fentanyl and to provide 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.240 resources for those who are struggling with that 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:40.700 addiction. So there are resources out there for 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:43.799 people who need it. You just have to go and look 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:48.720 for it. Long story short, or rather in conclusion 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.460 on what I'm trying to say about fentanyl. Long 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:54.460 story short, it's a synthetic opioid that is 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:57.539 highly potent, can be very dangerous when misused. 00:11:58.169 --> 00:12:00.789 It's important to only use as prescribed and 00:12:00.789 --> 00:12:03.950 to be aware of the risks of overdosing by taking 00:12:03.950 --> 00:12:07.669 even a little bit too much. If you know someone 00:12:07.669 --> 00:12:09.889 who is struggling with addiction to fentanyl 00:12:09.889 --> 00:12:12.929 or other opioids, help is available. And you 00:12:12.929 --> 00:12:15.029 can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 00:12:15.029 --> 00:12:20.190 Services Administration or SAMHSA national helplines 00:12:20.190 --> 00:12:23.169 for those who need help or for yourself if you 00:12:23.169 --> 00:12:26.539 think you need help. Hold on here. Actually, 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:29.980 I do believe I have it. Yeah. So the phone number 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:36.120 is 1 -800 -662 -HELP or 4357. For more information, 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:39.019 this number may or may not vary depending on 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:41.779 the state you're in. But for the general phone 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:46.559 line, I do believe this is the number. Just something 00:12:46.559 --> 00:13:09.370 to keep in mind. Alright everybody, I'm not quite 00:13:09.370 --> 00:13:12.690 done yet. There's still a few more that I, still 00:13:12.690 --> 00:13:15.330 another one I need to talk about. I did mention 00:13:15.330 --> 00:13:18.429 fentanyl, and yes, it is extremely dangerous, 00:13:18.610 --> 00:13:21.730 but there's something similar to fentanyl that's 00:13:21.730 --> 00:13:28.289 just as dangerous, probably more dangerous than 00:13:28.289 --> 00:13:32.450 fentanyl. Just not as common, but it is there. 00:13:33.289 --> 00:13:36.669 and that would be the synthetic opioid carfentanil. 00:13:37.649 --> 00:13:40.250 Just add the word car in front of the word fentanyl. 00:13:40.250 --> 00:13:43.870 I promise you, you probably have seen this before, 00:13:43.950 --> 00:13:46.590 but didn't know how to pronounce it, or you may 00:13:46.590 --> 00:13:48.409 have never heard of it, but you didn't realize 00:13:48.409 --> 00:13:53.710 it. Anyway, carfentanil is a synthetic opioid, 00:13:53.870 --> 00:13:56.740 much like the other two. that is estimated to 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:59.659 be about 100 times more potent than fentanyl 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:03.399 and 10 ,000 times more potent than morphine, 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:08.659 meaning it's extremely effective. And this specific 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:12.259 drug, and dare I even say this for most people 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:15.080 who shouldn't even know this, but it is primarily 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:17.679 used in tranquilizers for large animals such 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:20.039 as elephants, but it has been found in illegal 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:23.889 drug markets in recent years. And you're like, 00:14:23.970 --> 00:14:26.389 well, Nia, why are you bringing up car fencing 00:14:26.389 --> 00:14:28.809 if it's mainly used in tranquilizers for animals? 00:14:29.009 --> 00:14:31.850 You'd be surprised. In other countries, drugs 00:14:31.850 --> 00:14:36.570 aren't regulated like they are here. So a tranquilizer 00:14:36.570 --> 00:14:38.789 dart that they use on humans may be the same 00:14:38.789 --> 00:14:41.889 tranquilizer dart they use on animals, which 00:14:41.889 --> 00:14:44.450 means that there's a high risk that you can still 00:14:44.450 --> 00:14:47.009 end up with this in your system without realizing 00:14:47.009 --> 00:14:50.759 it. There's also a chance that you could come 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.700 across it mixed with something else entirely, 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.860 like carfentanil could be mixed with fentanyl, 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:56.799 morphine, and a bunch of other drugs together 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.679 and you wouldn't even know. That being said, 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.779 carfentanil, like the others, is a scheduled 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:04.279 -to -control substance, and in the United States, 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:07.240 which it means that it has a high potency for 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:09.759 abuse and dependence, as like everything else. 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:12.120 It can be prescribed by a healthcare professional 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:14.519 for the management of severe pain, but it should 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:17.820 only be used under, again, close medical supervision. 00:15:19.389 --> 00:15:23.710 Okay, well, that's fine and all, but again, carfentanil 00:15:23.710 --> 00:15:26.490 is mainly used for tranquilizers, and we don't 00:15:26.490 --> 00:15:29.070 really use tranquilizers on humans, or at least 00:15:29.070 --> 00:15:31.909 we would like to believe that, because, you know, 00:15:32.049 --> 00:15:36.450 it's inhumane. Well, you may believe that, but 00:15:36.450 --> 00:15:37.990 a lot of people out there don't, and there are 00:15:37.990 --> 00:15:40.690 people out there who still do this. The high 00:15:40.690 --> 00:15:42.830 potency of carfentanil makes it particularly 00:15:42.830 --> 00:15:45.690 dangerous for misuse and accidental ingestion 00:15:45.690 --> 00:15:48.950 as well. Even a very small amount of this drug 00:15:48.950 --> 00:15:52.009 can cause an overdose, which can lead to respiratory 00:15:52.009 --> 00:15:55.070 failure, a coma, or in some people's cases, death. 00:15:56.190 --> 00:15:58.190 That being said, and this is something I didn't 00:15:58.190 --> 00:16:00.509 mention before with fentanyl, but carfentanil 00:16:00.509 --> 00:16:02.450 and fentanyl can also be absorbed through the 00:16:02.450 --> 00:16:07.419 skin as a powder, so keep that in mind. Another 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:09.860 issue is its prevalence of counterfeit or illegally 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:13.179 obtained carfentanil. These drugs can often be 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:14.919 mixed with other substances, as I've mentioned 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:18.360 before, such as heroin or cocaine, and that also 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:21.720 increases its risk of overdosing. And since you 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.019 can't check the purity of these drugs when you 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:26.779 get them on the black market or such, it's very, 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.000 very dangerous to even accept it from anyone, 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:33.519 especially when you don't know what it is. You 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.860 know, like I mentioned earlier, the opioid crisis 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:38.639 here in the United States has been mainly driven 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.740 in part by the proliferation of synthetic opioids, 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.480 including carfentanil, fentanyl, hydrocodone, 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.440 and tramadol, just to name a few, okay? This 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:51.799 isn't all of them. This is just a few that I'm 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:54.139 talking about now just to bring some attention 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:58.240 to it, okay? The opioid epidemic has resulted 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.799 in high number of overdose deaths each year, 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.039 carfentanil being one of the most potent and 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.920 dangerous synthetic opioids that's available 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:08.299 on the market. And much like everything else, 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.160 like I said, should not be taken recreationally 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:13.380 and must be taken under medical supervision. 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:19.220 So to recap just how bad this is, the misuse 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:22.299 of carfentanil. can lead to addiction, overdose, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:25.559 and death. It is estimated to be, as a synthetic 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:28.680 opioid, to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:32.079 and 10 ,000 times more potent than morphine. 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:35.500 And while it's mainly used in tranquilizers for 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:38.900 animals, it can still be bought illegally, which 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.680 makes it just as dangerous and just as high a 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.779 chance of misuse or accidental ingestion without 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:47.640 paying attention or by picking up something random 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:50.000 on the side of the road. We both... all know 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.380 that homeless people exist on the side of the 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:54.240 road. Not every homeless person is innocent. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.740 This is true. But not every homeless person is 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:59.859 a druggie or a drug head. Okay? That being said... 00:18:00.329 --> 00:18:02.410 We don't know what all is being passed around 00:18:02.410 --> 00:18:04.849 between them or what else is there, so if one 00:18:04.849 --> 00:18:06.710 of them drops something that looks like it's 00:18:06.710 --> 00:18:09.049 a pouch or something, your best action would 00:18:09.049 --> 00:18:12.049 be to probably just leave it alone and walk away. 00:18:12.230 --> 00:18:14.269 Though I know probably out there, there are a 00:18:14.269 --> 00:18:16.289 lot of people out there who will not do this. 00:18:16.589 --> 00:18:19.529 And for that, all I can say is to each their 00:18:19.529 --> 00:18:21.990 own. If you want to take that risk, by all means, 00:18:22.049 --> 00:18:26.690 go for it. But just be advised, be safe, and 00:18:26.690 --> 00:18:30.400 take precautions. Got one more to go. Let's do 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:49.140 this. Hey, everybody. Welcome back. I was going 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:51.920 to say that carfentanil was the last of the synthetic 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.220 opioids that I was going to cover today, but 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:56.579 I feel like I should cover something that's a 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:58.779 little less potent than the three I mentioned. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:02.359 And I said it earlier in one of the previous 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:04.799 parts of this episode, but I'll just go ahead 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.220 and state it again for clarity. And that's the 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:11.099 synthetic opioid Tramadol. Spelled T -R -A -M 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:15.160 -A -D -O -L. It is an opioid medication that's 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:17.539 used to manage moderate to severe pain, just 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:20.180 like all of them are, because that's essentially 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:23.349 what opioids do. but it works by binding to specific 00:19:23.349 --> 00:19:25.769 receptors in the brain that reduce the perception 00:19:25.769 --> 00:19:28.170 of pain. It's different from the other ones, 00:19:28.230 --> 00:19:31.750 as it only affects the levels of certain neurotransmitters 00:19:31.750 --> 00:19:35.650 in your brain, which can increase its effects. 00:19:36.089 --> 00:19:40.390 However, Tramadol is available in both immediate 00:19:40.390 --> 00:19:42.849 release and extended release formulations, and 00:19:42.849 --> 00:19:46.529 it can be used or taken orally or by injection. 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.680 It's typically prescribed for short -term pain 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:53.359 management, usually after surgeries or an injury. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:56.359 It's usually the better alternative than the 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.259 others. However, it can also be prescribed for 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:03.420 chronic pain, such as in the case of cancer. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.960 While Tramadol, unlike the others, is considered 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:10.339 to be less potent than the other opioids, it 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:13.000 still has the potential for abuse and dependence 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:16.430 and overdosing. The difference is it's not as 00:20:16.430 --> 00:20:19.210 bad, but it's still there. Long -term use of 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:21.410 Tramadol can lead to physical dependence, which 00:20:21.410 --> 00:20:24.329 means the person adapts to the drug and requires 00:20:24.329 --> 00:20:26.910 more of it to achieve the safe effect that it 00:20:26.910 --> 00:20:29.289 does. And of course, misuse of Tramadol leads 00:20:29.289 --> 00:20:31.509 to addiction, characterized by the compulsive 00:20:31.509 --> 00:20:34.410 drug -seeking behavior I mentioned earlier, and 00:20:34.410 --> 00:20:36.809 the inability to control the use, let alone their 00:20:36.809 --> 00:20:39.680 desire for it. Obviously, mixing Tramadol with 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.779 other substances such as alcohol can lead to 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:44.059 risks of overdosing or serious side effects. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:46.880 So definitely don't do that. And it can also 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.859 interact with other medications such as antidepressants. 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:52.859 So it's important to inform your healthcare provider 00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:54.960 of all the medications you are taking before 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:58.160 you start taking this. Because unlike the other 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:01.039 ones, this one will mix with what's there and 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.680 will either increase its effects or slightly 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.819 change its effects based off of it. Also... Since 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:09.660 I've done brought this up, it's also important 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:11.680 to note that trombone may also cause withdrawal 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.200 symptoms if it's just suddenly stopped. This 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:16.519 is one of those drugs that you have to slow your 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:19.440 roll off of if you've been taking for a while. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.819 And it's important to follow the dosage schedule 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:24.740 that is directed by healthcare professionals, 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:27.319 especially the one who assigned it to you, and 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:30.480 to talk to your doctor before you just stop taking 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:32.579 it. This is not something you can just stop. 00:21:33.829 --> 00:21:37.170 Okay? While it's not as dangerous as the other 00:21:37.170 --> 00:21:41.410 ones, as far as potency is concerned, it's still 00:21:41.410 --> 00:21:44.529 just as effective, if not as dangerous, in the 00:21:44.529 --> 00:21:46.630 sense that it's not something that you can walk 00:21:46.630 --> 00:21:49.430 away from and just be like, okay, I'm done taking 00:21:49.430 --> 00:21:52.509 this today, and you're done. That's not how this 00:21:52.509 --> 00:21:57.990 one works. In summary, Tramadol is a synthetic 00:21:57.990 --> 00:22:00.730 opioid medication that is used for monitoring 00:22:00.730 --> 00:22:03.980 severe pain. It's less potent than the other 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:06.019 opioids, but still has the potential for abuse, 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:09.420 dependency, and overdose. And it's very important 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:12.539 to be aware of the risks and to take steps to 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:14.220 protect yourself and your loved ones when you 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.900 have to take it, if you have to take it at all. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:21.359 Okay? So with that, that's all I'm going to cover 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.539 on synthetic opioids, or at least certain names 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:27.920 or branded ones. for now we're going to take 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.680 a break we're going to go back to talking about 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.059 learning styles and then we're going to come 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:33.920 back and talk about certain stimulants that are 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.579 available as narcotics as well as depressants 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:40.980 hallucinogens inhalants and of course at some 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:43.519 point we have to get to cannabis but like i said 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.640 there are many other things that i want to cover 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:47.500 things that i said i was going to cover that 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:51.180 i haven't covered um but That's the thing that 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:54.000 we're going with now. Also, if you know anybody 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:56.859 who has had to deal with this or had to deal 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:59.319 with any of these opioids, feel free to leave 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:01.019 a comment down below. I thank you for your time. 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:06.140 This is your host, Neogentrix, signing out. And 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:08.759 I hope you have a great rest of your day. Try 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:11.200 to stay drug -free and be blessed.