Breaking Fentanyl's Grip: The dangers and efforts of relief

Yahoo

28-03-2025

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — It takes just two milligrams, an amount small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, to be lethal. That is the deadly reality of fentanyl.
'Fentanyl has definitely come about here recently, very badly in about the past two years. And, of course, before that, it was meth. But now fentanyl is rampant, not just in Wichita Falls, but nationwide, it's the new norm almost now,' WFPD Officer Brian Arias said.
Authorities said fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, is flooding communities across the nation, including right here in local communities.
'Having worked patrol and talked to a lot of my patrol officers and detectives, when it was at its worst, people were almost overdosing every day,' Arias said.
Clay County paramedic Cory Nava has seen firsthand how quickly the drug shuts down the body.
'I've had patients that have eaten fentanyl patches. Patients that have thought they were taking cocaine or methamphetamine, but it was laced with fentanyl. So, they start getting that different effect, and they realize something's wrong. That's when they call 911,' Nava said.
But not everyone is lucky enough to make that call. We hear one pill can kill, but with fentanyl, even the vapors can.
'The stuff we're seeing on the streets and the stuff that's being mixed and made to look like other things comes in a powder form, and it's very potent to the point that if the vapors were to get into the air or the little powder molecules and if you were to inhale it, you would usually start to overdose,' Arias said.
Fentanyl has even changed the way first responders approach routine situations.
'A law enforcement officer was doing a routine stop, back when they could do this. They would open up a bag or something they found in a car and smell it to see if it was marijuana or see what they could smell to see what it was. Well, he did that, and it was fentanyl, and it caused him to have an overdose,' Nava said.
What makes fentanyl so scary is that it can be mixed with all types of substances.
'Such as meth, marijuana, or even placed in the vape cartridges,' Arias said.
Vape cartridges and opioids are extremely popular among the youth, which is why Officer Brian Arias and Crime Stoppers visit schools, teaching the dangers and the signs of an overdose.
'Blue lips and fingertips. The pupils are actually pinpoint pupils. So, take your pupil and make it as small as possible. They may be clammy to the touch. And also, an obvious sign is they're not breathing. So, calling 911 services is absolutely crucial because any given you have about 3 to 5 minutes,' Arias said.
Between those 3-5 minutes, if available, Narcan should be administered; it's the crucial drug that has saved many lives.
'Fentanyl binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, Narcan comes out and causes that to separate. It kicks starts the fentanyl off of those opioid receptors and reverses the respiratory depression,' Nava said.
However, besides the classroom lessons, parents and community members must take action.
'Be aware of what your kids are doing on their cell phones, online video gaming, online computer stuff. Again, there are a lot of hidden messages on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and all those other apps out there,' Arias said. 'You're the parent. That cell phone is your cell phone, not your kids. So please understand who they're talking to and what they're saying because that could be your first step. You just have to be present in their life.'
The fentanyl crisis continues to claim lives, but through education, enforcement, and emergency response, we are fighting back.
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-662-HELP or text 988 for confidential support.
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