“Ignorance is bliss.” “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” These statements might apply if you don’t know whether you really look good in your favorite outfit. When it comes to looks, it’s more important how you feel than what others might think.

These statements certainly don’t apply when we’re discussing drug use. Ignorance is definitely not bliss and what you don’t know can’t hurt you (and even kill you).

There are so many reports about people who die or become sick because they think they’re taking one drug but they’re really using another, more dangerous type of drug. Even though we hear so much about drugs, alcohol, and addiction, these mistakes are very common and they don’t seem to be decreasing.

Such mistakes are part of the opiate/opioid epidemic in this country. People might think they’re using heroin, which is a very strong drug in its own right. But instead, they might be using heroin mixed with fentanyl or carfentanil, two opioids that are even stronger. Or, they might use hallucinogens that they think will just affect their brains, but instead, they’re using a different kind of hallucinogen that affects their hearts, blood vessels, and body temperatures.

If people don’t know what drugs they’ve ingested, it can make it harder to diagnose what they’ve taken. It can make it harder to treat any problems that arise. Medical professionals might spend precious time trying to diagnoses these problems when they could’ve been solving them. This delay could lead to serious complications and even be fatal.

“Knowing is half the battle,” is another famous statement that could apply in this instance. People should know about drugs and alcohol before they use them. Better yet, they should know about their habits. Maybe they could take time to learn why they’re using the substances in the first place. If they use them regularly, maybe this could help them know themselves better and if they have drug problems.