A wave of homemade, synthetic drugs sweeps US and deepens crisis

The few grains of fentanyl sit in the silver foil as a straw, held between Mike's lips, hovers above, with a cigarette lighter below. The 48-year-old army veteran is crouched low in an alleyway in Columbus, Ohio's Linden neighbourhood.

"This drug will damn near make you do anything, unfortunately," he says.

The hit he's smoking cost three or four dollars.

"You can snort too much and you can't take it back. Kind of like a gunshot. Can't call the bullet back," he says.

He burns the foil and inhales. As the opioid takes hold, he grips the fence behind him. He sways as a low moan comes from deep in his throat - he could be humming a tune.

We've spent a few days with Mike - he's been our guide through the neighbourhood's back streets. Everyone seems to know him and he's regarded fondly. He helps out at a local pawn shop and gas station, and that's how he feeds his 20-year-old opioid addiction.

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