Within the July 15 edition, The Westfield News provides warning of the danger of opioids that have been laced with fentanyl or with the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine (“‘Tranq Dope’ Adds New Deadliness to Opioid Epidemic”). With street drugs, you never know for sure what you’re getting.
In addition, while the danger of knowingly or unknowingly mixing different types of drugs is generally well recognized, of particular note is the danger of mixing opioids and alcohol. Both are respiratory depressants, and concurrent use of opioids and alcohol will compound the depressant impact of each upon breathing.
In Massachusetts, of the 2,357 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022 (out of 79,770 nationwide), fentanyl was present in 93% of cases in which a toxicology report was available. Alcohol was present in 28% of cases. A very informative analysis of many aspects of the opioid epidemic is available at www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-opioid-related-overdose-deaths-rose-25-percent-in-2022.
