New York: America has been hit by hundreds of deaths caused by drug overdose.
To blame for the deaths is a powerful synthetic drug which is being supplied from illicit labs and is often sold as an alternative for heroin.
Metro.co.uk reported that 10 people died over a period of 12 days from drug overdose in the Sacramento area.
It is believed that most died after unknowingly consuming tablets containing Fentanyl.
As per the report, the drug - prescribed to cancer patients for severe pain - is being sold as opiate painkiller.
The pill causes multi-organ shutdown and failure.
As per officials, Fentanyl is some 20 to 100 times stronger than heroin.
Deaths caused by overdose of Fentanyl have been reported from several American states. In New Hampshire, the drug has been blamed for 75 percent of 420 overdose deaths.
In view of the increasing number of deaths, drug group FRANK has advised: “As some synthetic opioids are more potent than natural opioids they can be effective at very small doses, which can make it easier to take too much. There is a greater risk of overdose and death if you mix synthetic opioids with other drugs that suppress breathing such as alcohol, benzodiazepines (like diazepam or Valium), and/or other opiate drugs (like heroin).”
