Fentanyl vs Oxycodone, What’s the Difference?
Comparing Fentanyl vs Oxycodone there are a lot of important differences. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is extremely powerful, more powerful by weight than any other opioid prescribed to humans. No exaggeration here, an amount the size of a few grains of sand is enough to kill a grown man. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid. It is far less powerful than Fentanyl, but still very, very dangerous. What makes it even worse that fake opioid tablets made with Fentanyl are plentiful on the streets now. Keep reading to gain a full knowledge of the 5 things you really need to know about both of these drugs.
The 5 Things You Need to Know About Fentanyl vs Oxycodone
- Fentanyl is extremely powerful.
- Fentanyl is MUCH more powerful than any other regularly prescribed opiate or even heroin.
- Fake Oxycodone tablets made with Fentanyl are common.
- Synthetic opioids like Fentanyl are responsible for 3 TIMES as many overdose deaths.
- Naloxone (Narcan) isn’t always effective (enough) at reversing Fentanyl overdose.
#1 Fentanyl vs Oxycodone, Fentanyl is MUCH More Powerful
Chronic opioid users generally have the sense that Fentanyl is especially powerful. Most don’t realize just how powerful it is. Considering Fentanyl vs Oxycodone, Oxycodone is about 1.5 as powerful as morphine. Fentanyl is 50-100 times as potent as morphine. A relative comparison to morphine is a commonly used scale to gauge the potency of different opioids against one another. Fentanyl is synthetic and it is illegally manufacturers now and ends up in heroin and fake pills more and more.
#2 Fentanyl is MUCH More Powerful Than Other Rx Opiates and Even Heroin
In Fentanyl vs Oxycodone, Fentanyl is at least 50 times as powerful as Oxycodone, usually more. The criminals who manufacturer and “step” on street heroin before it reaches users mix Fentanyl along with other “fillers” to make heroin go further and increase profits. The problem is, it is so powerful by weight that is it very, very hard to control the dose. It is so much stronger than heroin that mixing it with street heroin makes accidental overdose more likely than ever before.
#3 Fake Oxycodone Tablets Made with Fentanyl are Common
You might be considering Fentanyl vs Oxycodone and imagine you’ll be safe if you stick to pills and stay away from heroin. Wrong. Fake opioid tablets made with Fentanyl are plentiful on the streets now. That Percocet or Oxy pill you think you’re buying is just as likely to be a fake pill pressed with Fentanyl that will put you in the ground. We don’t say this to scare you, it’s just the cold hard truth and there are plenty of sad statistics out there to back it up. You may think you can tell a real pill from a fake one, but prescription opioids are so tightly controlled now that fake pills have become more common than real ones in many places. The financial incentives have made organized crime better and better at making very convincing looking fake tablets.
#4 Synthetic Opioids are Responsible for 3 TIMES as Many Overdose Deaths
In 2019, semi-synthetic prescription opioids like Percocet, Roxicodone and Hydrocodone were responsible for at least 11,886 overdose deaths. The number of overdose deaths in the same period from synthetic opioids was 36,359. That number is almost entirely Fentanyl and Carfentanyl deaths. Tramadol is the only other common synthetic opioid and it’s less than 1% as powerful as Fentanyl. It is a game changer. “Fent” is really unlike anything else out there in terms of potency and risk for fatal accidental overdose.
#5 Naloxone isn’t Always Effective at Reversing Fentanyl Overdose
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a lifesaving medication that can quickly reverse the effects of opioids. Thousands of lives are saved every year when opioid overdoses are reversed with a dose of Narcan. But Fentanyl is so powerful that first responders and other report having to use multiple doses of naloxone to counter overdoses with Fentanyl. Sometimes it is too little, too late.
Conclusion
Opioid dependence is serious. Fatal opioid overdoses are on the rise and Fentanyl vs Oxycodone is one of the reasons why. If you or someone you love is dependent on opiates or any other drug, including alcohol, call us. Riverwalk Recovery Center can help you overcome opioid addiction and live a productive life in recovery. There is a way out. Millions have recovered from this seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Call Riverwalk Recovery Center at (423) 264-2600 or reach out to us through our contact page here.