why are drugs laced with fentanyl

Drugs are laced with fentanyl primarily because fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that can be made cheaply and easily in labs. Drug dealers mix fentanyl into other drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit prescription pills to increase their potency, making the drugs cheaper to produce and more addictive. The high potency of fentanyl means only a small amount is needed to achieve strong effects, which increases profit margins for dealers. However, many users are unaware their drugs contain fentanyl, leading to a high risk of overdose and death due to its extreme strength compared to other opioids. Fentanyl is about 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin or morphine, which makes any drug laced with it much more powerful but also much more dangerous. Its presence increases the risk of fatal overdose because even a tiny, unrecognized amount can overwhelm the body, especially if the user has no tolerance to fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often disguised in pills that look like legitimate prescription medications, making it harder for users to know what they are taking. In summary, drugs are laced with fentanyl because it maximizes effect and profit for dealers but greatly increases overdose risk for users who often do not know fentanyl is present in the drug they are taking.