Based on the provided scenario, what is the most likely pharmacological reason for the simultaneous decrease in price and increase in fatal overdoses? Explain your reasoning.

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To maintain affordability and enhance the drug's effects, heroin dealers began mixing it with more powerful synthetic opioids. Common additives included fentanyl and carfentanyl, which significantly increased the potency of the heroin being sold.

Adulteration of Heroin with Synthetic Opioids

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanyl are exceptionally potent. Their inclusion in the heroin supply dramatically increased the danger to users, as even a very small quantity of these substances can be enough to trigger a fatal overdose.

High Potency and Overdose Risk of Synthetic Opioids

A public health report notes a paradoxical trend in a city's illicit drug market: the average street price for a dose of what is sold as heroin has decreased, yet the rate of fatal overdoses among its users has dramatically increased. Which of the following provides the most logical explanation for this combination of market and health outcomes?

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