Originally published on NEWS4SA
SAN ANTONIO — There’s a growing danger in Texas, it’s the rise of a meth product stronger than ever before mixed in with fentanyl. While most of us have been battling the coronavirus pandemic, DEA agents are working nonstop as meth is flooding across the border at an all-time high.
“People are taking certain pills to get high and other people are taking other pills to bring themselves back down,” said Dante Sorianello, the assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in the San Antonio district.“
Despite the border being somewhat closed, meth seizures by U.S. Border Enforcement agencies have increased at an alarming rate. DEA agents have been stopping huge loads of meth and fentanyl not only across the nation, but right here in Texas.DEA: The rise of meth mixed with fentanyl (SBG San Antonio)
“We are seeing a rise in a variety of pills being marketed as a variety of different things, as well as being marketed just as pure methamphetamine pills,” said Sorianello.
According to the DEA, the average gram of meth a decade ago was 39% pure. Today’s meth is almost 100% pure. Stronger, deadlier, but cheaper than the meth of decades ago.
“We’ve seen a lot of this counterfeit Adderall which are pure meth pills and now we’re also seeing a lot of people actually selling meth pills, as meth pills,” said Sorianello.
If you are caught selling or taking these meth pills, you will be charged and if someone overdoses because of the pills you provided you can be held accountable.
“There’s a variety of state and federal charges a federal charge would be the distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death,” said Sorianello.
Aside from the dangers of overdoses, meth often does its damage over time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, meth use contributes to strokes and heart attacks, even in otherwise healthy adults. But meth doesn’t get its share of blame for the damage it does. Meth-related stroke and heart attack deaths aren’t always attributed to drug use, especially now that everyone is looking more closely at Covid-19 as the culprit in any health related issues.
In your neighborhood on the streets, Fox San Antonio and the DEA will keep you informed and safe.
