Fake Xanax Pills Being Distributed
Recently, law enforcement in 21 states has reported finding fake Xanax pills that could possibly cause and have caused an overdose. The pills are remarkably similar to the authentic Xanax drugs, making it hard to distinguish between the two. The fake pills are being made with a mixture of fentanyl and other drugs and are created on a pill press with the name Xanax on them making the pills appear even more authentic.
Drug dealers are circulating this fake drug across the country. They are selling them as the real Xanax, which is the most commonly prescribed abused prescription medication in the United States right now. Prescribed for generalized anxiety disorders and insomnia, Xanax is more potent than many other addictive drugs and reportedly causes 124,900 thousand emergency room visits per year.
In October of 2015, San Francisco reported a case of 4 individuals ingesting the fake pills. Three almost died and the fourth never made it to the hospital. Dr. Phillip Coffin, of San Francisco’s Health Department described the effects of the fake Xanax in those who survived the effects of the pills as, “Nerve damage, muscle breakdowns with some kidney damage, and fluid in the lungs.”
Coffin also indicated that, “the Xanax pill is often bought on the street by those who want to come down or cool off after a night of partying or something like that.” But what the individuals ended up buying was an extremely potent opiate called Fentanyl instead.
Because there is so much Fentanyl in the fake Xanax it is much more dangerous. Xanax, whether real or fake, goes by the street names: blue footballs, benzos, handlebars and zannies.
Source: abc7news.com