Why are drug dealers putting fentanyl in everything? (Part 2)
Aug 18, 2023
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Former fentanyl dealer and user Luis shares insights into the reasons why drug dealers mix fentanyl with non-lethal drugs. The podcast also explores the experiences of drug users in rehab centers, the rise of fentanyl in prisons, the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs, and the mindset of drug dealers. It concludes with discussions on drug testing websites and rehab services.
Dealers intentionally lace drugs with fentanyl to create a stronger and more addictive high, luring customers to come back for more.
The adulteration of drugs with fentanyl mirrors past practices of lacing cocaine with heroin to keep customers hooked, and the current fentanyl crisis is a return to the heroin era with a crack-era mentality.
Deep dives
Fentanyl's Presence in Non-Opioid Drugs: A Deliberate Choice by Dealers
Lewis, a former drug dealer, believes that the adulteration of drugs like cocaine and cannabis with fentanyl is not accidental. He explains that dealers intentionally lace drugs with fentanyl to create a stronger and more addictive high, luring customers to come back for more. This tactic resembles an old practice in which dealers laced cocaine with heroin to keep customers hooked on their product. Lewis also shares that fentanyl has become prevalent in various drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2, amplifying the risks for users. He highlights the callousness and lack of consciousness surrounding the drug trade today, emphasizing the urgent need for speaking openly about the dangers and helping others avoid his path of addiction.
The Logic Behind Fentanyl Laced Drugs and Increased Addiction
Lewis explains the logic behind lacing drugs like cocaine and cannabis with fentanyl. For some users, the combination offers a better and more intense high, attracting them to a dealer's specific product. By adulterating drugs with fentanyl, dealers can create a physical addiction in customers, leading to a higher chance of repeat business. Lewis points out that opiate addicts often chase the ultimate high, willing to use drugs even if it means risking their lives. The temptation to achieve that elevated state outweighs the fear of potential overdose deaths, making them susceptible to the enticement offered by fentanyl-laced drugs.
Fentanyl's Impact: Repeating the Ugliness of the Crack Era
Lewis draws parallels between the crack era and the current fentanyl crisis, noting the similarities in their destructive outcomes. He observes that the availability and use of fentanyl have spread far beyond urban areas and across different demographics. While crack changed the dynamics of drug use, fentanyl signifies a return to the heroin era of the 1950s and 1960s, but now infused with the mentality that prevailed during the 1986 crack era. Lewis highlights the universal nature of this drug problem, affecting all races and neighborhoods, with individuals pursuing the most extreme high regardless of the consequences.
Lewis' Focus on Recovery and Becoming a Role Model
Lewis shares his personal goal of staying clean and helping others, especially young people, avoid falling into addiction. Reflecting on his own story and acknowledging the negative impact he had on others' lives, including his daughters, he now aims to share the harsh realities of addiction to serve as a cautionary tale. Lewis expresses his desire to change the narrative and make a positive impact by being honest about the ugliness of addiction and guiding others away from the destructive path he once followed.
We speak to Luis, a former fentanyl dealer and user who tells us why a dealer might want to put fentanyl in less lethal drugs. Luis also tells us how he learned the rules of dealing, and how the rules changed over his multi-decade career.
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