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BBC OS Conversations: Fentanyl in the United States

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Fentanyl in the United States

28/04/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - BBC OS Conversations, Fentanyl in the United States

Families share their stories of losing a loved one and the stigma around the drug

Families share their stories of losing a loved one and the stigma around the drug.

Fentanyl is a potentially deadly synthetic opioid. The other month, a drug enforcement official in the country described it as the single deadliest drug threat the US has encountered. 

It’s been around since the 1960s and small doses are used safely every day by medics for pain relief. But as an illegal drug, Fentanyl is blamed for more than 70,000 deaths in the US every year. It is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and has contributed to the deaths of musicians Coolio, Tom Petty and Prince. 

The drug touches many regular lives too. And in order to get behind the many headlines, we have been hearing about the impact of Fentanyl.

We bring together two parents who lost children to the drug. George Gerchow in Colorado tells us that one of the hardest aspects is dealing with the stigma and lack of support from the community. 

“We always say if someone goes by suicide or labelled with overdose, society turns their back on them,” George says. “If my child would have died in a car accident, they’d be letting go of balloons and having some sort of life celebration.”

We also hear from three medical professionals, who share their experiences of treating people who have overdosed.
 
Some of the conversations contain themes of trauma and drug use, but we hope they will give you an insight into the challenges America is facing in dealing with this growing problem.

BBC OS Conversations is a co-production between BBC OS and Boffin Media.

(Photo:  Plastic bags of Fentanyl are displayed on a table at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection area at the International Mail Facility at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 29, 2017. Credit: Joshua Lott/File Photo/Reuters)

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