Fentanyl Awareness
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021) issued an article stating that fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is comparable to morphine but significantly more powerful, with a potency that is 50 to 100 times greater. While it is a prescription medication used to alleviate severe pain, particularly post-surgery, it is also produced and utilized illegally. In cases of chronic pain where patients have developed a tolerance to other opioids, fentanyl may be prescribed. Tolerance occurs when higher doses or more frequent administration of a drug is required to achieve the desired effects. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have become the most prevalent substances involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. Opioids belong to a class of drugs naturally occurring in the opium poppy plant. Some opioids are derived directly from the plant, while others, like fentanyl, are created in laboratories using the same chemical structure (semi-synthetic or synthetic). When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be administered via injection, transdermal patches, or lozenges. Illegally manufactured fentanyl, which is commonly associated with recent overdose cases, is produced in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is illicitly sold as a powder, applied to blotter paper, used in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or pressed into pills resembling other prescription opioids. Drug dealers often mix fentanyl with substances such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA due to its high potency and cost-effectiveness. This poses a significant risk, as individuals consuming these drugs may be unaware of the presence of fentanyl as a cheap but hazardous additive. Consequently, they may unknowingly ingest more potent opioids than their bodies are accustomed to, increasing the likelihood of overdose. Similar to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl functions by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are located in areas of the brain responsible for pain and emotions. With prolonged opioid use, the brain adapts to the drug, reducing its sensitivity and making it difficult to experience pleasure from other sources.
In 2021, the number of drug overdose deaths witnessed a significant increase compared to 2019. A staggering total of 106,000 drug overdose deaths were reported during this period. Notably, fatalities related to synthetic opioids, excluding methadone, particularly fentanyl, continued to surge, accounting for 70,601 overdose deaths in 2021. Additionally, deaths involving stimulants such as cocaine or psychostimulants with abuse potential, mainly methamphetamine, also experienced a rise, reaching 32,537 overdose deaths in 2021. These statistics are sourced from CDC WONDER.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, March 3). Fentanyl drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl#:~:text=has%20been%20added.-,Fentanyl%20works%20by%20binding%20to%20the%20body’s%20opioid%20receptors%2C%20which,unconsciousness%2C%20coma%2C%20and%20death.
Higashikawa Y, Suzuki S. Studies on 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-(N-propionylanilino)piperidine (fentanyl) and its related compounds. VI. Structure-analgesic activity relationship for fentanyl, methyl-substituted fentanyls and other analogues. Forensic Toxicol.2008;26(1):1-5. doi:10.1007/s11419-007-0039-1
Nelson L, Schwaner R. Transdermal fentanyl: Pharmacology and toxicology. J Med Toxicol. 2009;5(4):230-241. doi:10.1007/BF03178274