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will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.
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prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
A unique form of fentanyl called furanyl fentanyl has resurfaced in New York City. Throughout 2016, rogue Chinese labs produced fentanyl derivatives, such as furanyl fentanyl, to evade legal regulations.
The chemical was technically legal to sell in the United States until the Drug Enforcement Administration classified it as a Schedule I controlled substance in September 2016. Fentanyl is a potent opioid that’s caused increasing numbers of overdose deaths across the country.
Furanyl fentanyl is often cut with heroin and sold as ‘China White,’ a street term for heroin laced with fentanyl derivatives.
Between December 2015 and April 2016, seven deaths in Cook County, Illinois involved furanyl fentanyl. The drug was also suspected of causing a number of overdoses in Chicago in February 2017, according to the Chicago Tribune.
In March, New York City police arrested more than 30 gang members who were accused of trafficking China White from Arizona to New York. Police confiscated fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl and cocaine during the arrests.
“This may be the biggest public health crisis of our time,” Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said at a March 29 news conference. “These defendants don’t care about the death and despair they’re causing, just making money.”
Two days after the press conference, seven people died from heroin overdoses on the same day in Erie County, New York. Authorities believed the heroin was laced with fentanyl, but it’s unclear what form of fentanyl was involved.
In early April, nine people in New York City overdosed during a 24-hour time period, according to the New York Daily News. Authorities across the state are scrambling to keep illicit opioids off the street and to connect people who need help with treatment.
NYPD Begins New Approach Toward Combatting Drug Use
At an April law enforcement conference, the New York City Police Department announced that it was focusing more attention on drug dealers and less on people who use drugs.
“We can’t arrest our way out of this problem,” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said at the conference. “When we interview those who have been lucky enough not to die after an overdose, we tell them we are not going to lock them up. We want to know how and when they got their drugs.”
NYPD is also expanding efforts to save the lives of opioid users. New York City Police Chief Dermot Shea announced that 17,000 police officers have been trained to use Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Every NYPD police officer is expected to receive naloxone training by June.
The police department is also tracking overdoses with a system called RxStat. The system identifies hot spots where a large number of overdoses have occurred. RxStat can help officers raise awareness about a dangerous supply of heroin in specific neighborhoods. It can also help them track down drug dealers.
How China White Has Changed and Impacted New York
In the 1970s, “China White” referred to almost any form of heroin. Today, it’s usually used to refer to furanyl fentanyl, but some people use it to refer to heroin laced with other forms of fentanyl.
Many drug dealers sell heroin mixed with other chemicals as China White to increase its appeal. Like other drugs, users rarely know if they’re buying China White that includes furanyl fentanyl or some other combination of chemicals.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) described New York City as the “East Coast hub” for China White distribution in 2015. At the time, he called for increased funding for anti-drug trafficking programs.
“We all saw the horrors caused by the crack epidemic when left unchecked by feds and other law enforcement,” Schumer said in a 2015 statement. “[We] can’t let New York City become [a] hotbed for heroin and even more dangerous forms like ‘China White.’”
China White contributed to 23 people deadly fentanyl overdoses during a two-week period in upstate New York in 2016.
The availability of fentanyl derivatives in the United States was expected to decrease after China cracked down on fentanyl production in February 2017, but authorities said that the drug trafficking ring that was busted in April received most of its fentanyl from China.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.
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