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Exploring Fentanyl: A Potent Synthetic Opioid
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is a medication approved by the FDA for analgesic and anesthetic purposes, renowned for its potency being approximately 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Operating by binding to the body's opioid receptors in areas of the brain responsible for pain and emotions, fentanyl significantly impacts brain function and can lead to addiction with prolonged use. Its diverse formulations, including patches, lozenges, and tablets, offer various options for pain management. However, misuse of fentanyl, whether through illegal manufacturing or mixing with other drugs, poses severe risks, contributing significantly to opioid overdose deaths. Understanding the effects, side effects, and treatment options for fentanyl abuse is crucial in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.
"What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic." *
"How does fentanyl affect the brain? Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. 8 After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives."
"How does fentanyl work? Fentanyl works directly on opioid receptors in the central nervous system and reduces feelings of pain by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body.
It is available in several formulations in different strengths, including patches, lozenges, tablets that disintegrate in your mouth and sublingual (under the tongue) tablets."
"The side effects of fentanyl are similar to those of other opioids, and include: (Possible Death)
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Opioids—mainly synthetic opioids (other than methadone)—are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. 82.3% of opioid-involved overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids.
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Opioids were involved in 68,630 overdose deaths in 2020 (74.8% of all drug overdose deaths).
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Drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine are increasing with and without synthetic opioid involvement.
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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. In its prescription form it is prescribed for pain, but fentanyl is also made illegally.
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Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.
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Illegal fentanyl is sold in the following forms: as a powder, dropped on blotter paper like small candies, in eye droppers or nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like real prescription opioids.
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Illegal fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is especially dangerous because people are often unaware that fentanyl has been added.
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Fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death.
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The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if a person who uses drugs is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose of opioids they are taking, resulting in overdose.
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Naloxone is a medicine that can be given to a person to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Multiple naloxone doses might be necessary because of fentanyl’s potency.
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Medication with behavioral therapies has been shown to be effective in treating people with an addiction to fentanyl and other opioids."