TIFU by almost dying of an opioid overdose while on vacation

This happened two days ago. I am on vacation in Mexico, staying at a resort with my wife’s parents and my parents are 30 minutes away at another hotel. Two days ago we all ventured into town for lunch. On our walk I noticed a bunch of pharmacies advertising medicine than would require a prescription in the U.S. We decide on our place for lunch but have 30 minutes to kill. My curiosity got the better of me so I walked into the closest pharmacy to assess the situation. I was in shock as the pharmacist explained I could buy anything without a prescription. Options included Xanax, steroid, viagra, and obviously pain killers.

I don’t abuse pills and I rarely drink but I like to have fun once in a while. For example the last time I did coke was 2 years, Xanax every couple of months. Everything in moderation.

So how could I pass this up? A nice painkiller to take before bed and another for the beach the next day? So I bought 2 pills for $60 USD. I told my wife and she was a little skeptical but I reassured her by showing her the pharmacy. It’s not like a pharmacy would sell bad pills, right?!?!

After dinner I took one pill. I immediately noticed that it tasted weird and instinctively regretted taking it. I opened my phone and googled M30 green pill (M30 being the inscription on the pill). Due to bad Internet the page never loaded.

The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital bed with my wife by my side and a tube down my throat. I was so confused but quickly realized what had happened. She explained the rest.

My wife walked in and saw me swaying. She also said I looked pale and gray. I then lied down and become unresponsive. She grabbed my phone to call my friend who she knows does opioids to see if this is normal. As she opens my phone the google search for M30 green pills loads. Every result mentions fake pills laced with fentanyl. She calls in her parents who are in the room over with family friends. They come over and see what’s happening. Her father picked me up to “shake” me back to life. It didn’t work.

My wife simultaneously calls the front desk. Emt arrived minutes later with the resident doctor.

At this point I was not breathing. My lungs completely shut down and emt was breathing for me. These people saved my life and stabilized me.

I get to the hospital where the doctor is convinced my lungs have collapsed. He ordered tubes be put down my throat to assist with breathing. My throat still hurts. I believe they then tapered this off until my lungs too over.

My parents then arrived and I am so happy they didn’t see me at the worst of it.

Today, I am honestly still in shock. I keep thinking what if things didn’t happened how they did. If my wife didn’t open my phone or If the doctor took an extra minute to get to me. I could have suffered brain damage or died. All because I wanted to have a little extra fun on vacation. I guess I’m the idiot for believing a fucking pharmacy wouldn’t sell laced pills.

I have a wife and 17 month old with another due in June. I’m honestly crying typing this bc I can’t stop imagining how I almost lost my life and the opportunity to spend time with them and to meet my unborn baby. I also can’t imagine what my wife was going through but she was such a fucking champ. I love her so much. These thoughts have truly been haunting me and I almost feel like I cheated death but it’s coming back final destination style. I told my wife last night that I was convinced I wouldn’t wake up.

The thought of how it all went black is also terrifying. I took the pill, went dark, woke up. Nothing in between. I know a lot of this trauma is probably normal.

TLDR: I’m in Mexico on vacation and bought opioids from a pharmacy. The opioids were laced with fentanyl and I almost died.

Update - thank you all for the comments (even the harsher ones).

Many of you pointed out that taking the 2nd pill home to test is a bad idea. I agree. Others have said that I am a POS and my wife deserves better. In the moment, I also somewhat agree. Others are saying I need to reevaluate my drug use. I agree with this as well.

I clearly have a lot of maturing to do and I need to mature now so that I can properly take care of my family.