Mobile County Health Department Fentanyl Lecture

Fentanyl is a well known narcotic used due to its properties that able it to treat severe pain. Fentanyl is classified as a controlled substance with a high risk for addiction and dependence. It can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or when combined with other substances, especially alcohol or other illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl is administered through a shot, a fentanyl patch, or even lozenges. Illicit fentanyl comes as a powder, on blotter paper, as a liquid in eye droppers or nasal sprays, or made into a tablet to resemble other opioid pills. Once addiction has set in, which happens quickly with all opioids particularly fentanyl, drug-seeking behaviors take over the person's life. The low cost of fentanyl and its addictive properties are two reasons why it is being mixed with other drugs. The low cost and availability of fentanyl contribute to this deadly and growing problem. This dangerous practice has led to a jump in overdose deaths from illicit drugs. Many unsuspecting users of drugs like cocaine and marijuana are even more susceptible as they most likely have never used any type of opioid, therefore the levels of fentanyl for them can be immediately lethal. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), drug dealers typically sell fentanyl by kilogram. One kilogram of fentanyl has the ability to kill 500,000 people. In addition, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that in 2017, 59% of opioid-related overdose deaths involved fentanyl as compared to 14.3% in 2020. There's no question-fentanyl and the practice of mixing it with other drugs is killing thousands of people. Awareness of this is needed in order to save lives.