Synthetic opioids causing more overdoses that prescription opioids

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Synthetic opioids, especially the illegally-made version of fentanyl, are now causing more overdose deaths in the US than prescription opioids.

New statistics show synthetic opioids accounted for 46% of overdose deaths in 2016. In 2010, that number was 14%.

Most of the synthetic opioids are made outside the United States. They are extremely strong and dangerous, especially when mixed with other drugs.

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