Fentanyl
At 50 times more potent than heroin, the smallest amount can be lethal
Fentanyl: What You Need to Know
To put into perspective just how potent the synthetic opioid fentanyl is, it can shut down breathing in less than 60 seconds and only requires two to three milligrams to end someone’s life. When it’s not cut into other drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin to increase its potency and up the selling price, it’s used primarily as anesthesia during major surgery or for cancer patients who need to manage extreme levels of pain.
Not surprisingly, overdoses have surged since 2013 as trafficking of fentanyl has exploded. Easier to produce than heroin because it’s not dependent on how the poppy crop has performed that year, it’s manufactured quickly and is injected more frequently because the high doesn’t last as long. Not surprisingly, the need for several doses significantly impacts one’s risk of overdose.
How It Works
A depressant, fentanyl has the unique ability to adhere to pain receptors in a way that other substances can’t. And because it’s fast-acting and provides a powerful sense of euphoria, it can heighten the desire for more, not to mention physical and mental dependence. When fentanyl is being used, the magnitude of the effects are often unpredictable because the amount of drug taken is usually unknown when it’s cut with other substances.
Effects of Fentanyl
- Seizures
- Reduced blood pressure
- Slowed or absent breathing
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Itchiness
- Clammy or blue skin
- Drowsiness, dizziness, lack of mental clarity
- Vomiting and nausea
- Urinary retention
- Constricted pupils
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