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One of the most notorious drugs on the black market today is called “Mexican oxy” that is actually street fentanyl disguised as oxycodone. On Wednesday, January 22nd, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Phoenix law enforcement announced they had seized approximately 165,000 Mexican oxy pills from a 24-year-old man. During the DEA investigation, an additional 4,000 pills were found. All combined, these pills are worth about $3 million in street value.
The blue pills were stamped with “M-30” and found during a traffic stop in which the suspect was arrested along with the passenger, who also had fentanyl in their possession. These pills, as many other Mexican oxy pills are, were likely manufactured in primitive conditions, and the pills were stamped with pill presses to mimic the look of actual oxycodone pills, which are much less potent compared to fentanyl. Each fentanyl pill can sell for about $9 to $30 each on the street, but buying opioids from a drug dealer is akin to playing Russian roulette: The first pill you take could be your last, resulting in a fatal overdose.
What Is Mexican Oxy and Why Is it Dangerous?
Mexican oxy is fentanyl disguised to look like oxycodone. It is highly dangerous and can have deadly consequences. In fact, street fentanyl and real oxycodone look identical, but it is impossible for drug dealers to know the dosage of the pills they are selling. One pill may have only trace amounts of fentanyl, whereas another could have enough to kill multiple grown adults. There is no quality control whatsoever, and those who are desperate to acquire fentanyl often succumb to fatal overdoses.
Fentanyl Addiction Is Deadly and Rampant in Arizona
As the deadliest opioid drug on the market, fentanyl is usually reserved for severe pain beyond what other opioids can deliver. In fact, fatal fentanyl overdoses have tripled in the state of Arizona from 2015 to 2017. Arizona and other states bordering Mexico are a hotbed for the U.S. opioid crisis, as the Mexican cartels flood the streets with Mexican oxy.
While fentanyl has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for decades, its primary use is for post-operative use or for late-stage cancer patients. Because it is so difficult to acquire a legitimate prescription, especially an ongoing one, addicts often turn to drug dealers to get their next fix.
In a statement, Phoenix police warned Arizonans not to take any pills prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
Fentanyl addiction is deadly. Don’t become a statistic. Contact us at Decision Point Center today at (844) 292-5010 to learn more about how we can help you get sober and stay sober.