What Is Fentanyl? A Look at One of America’s Deadliest Drugs

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is one of many synthetic opioids used to treat severe and chronic pain. It’s often prescribed for patients who have just undergone surgery or are seeking pain relief from chemotherapy. It’s widely considered to be a breakthrough cancer pain medication.

The fentanyl drug is a Schedule II Controlled Substance according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It has a high addictive potential. Even recreational drug use can quickly lead to dependence and tolerance. The fentanyl drug is also often involved in drug abuse, as the effects of fentanyl are a substitution for heroin.

As a pain reliever, fentanyl is 25 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. It’s also 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Just several micrograms of fentanyl can result in opioid overdose and overdose death.

Fentanyl is a prescription drug that is not only wreaking havoc in America. It’s wreaking havoc all over the world. In fact, there’s a fentanyl crisis in British Columbia, Canada as well. It’s responsible for many accidental overdoses.

Although doctors prescribe fentanyl as a pain reliever, there are also many nonpharmaceutical fentanyl options on the black market. The fentanyl drug is relatively cheap, so it is often buffed with other illicit drugs, like heroin.

Unfortunately, drug dealers can’t precisely measure the amount of fentanyl added to the drugs. As a result, it’s easy for drug dealers to add lethal doses to each batch accidentally. Fentanyl has now become one of the deadliest drugs in America. More people than ever abuse this prescription drug. There are also many recreational drugs containing fentanyl now. 

Common Street and Brand Names for Fentanyl

Fentanyl is as much of a prescription drug as it is an illicit drug. Due to this reason, it has many nicknames. Some are street names, and others are brand names. Other nicknames of fentanyl include:

• Abstral
• Actiq
• China girl
• Apache
• China
• China white
• Dance fever
• Duragesic
• Fiend
• Goodfellas
• Ionsys
• Jackpot
• Murder
• Sublimaze
• Subsys
• Tango and cash
• TNT

Fentanyl comes in many forms. There are fentanyl patches and fentanyl injections. It can also come in powder form. Each form of fentanyl has distinct properties and benefits. Fentanyl powder is the most popular form of fentanyl available on the black market.

What is fentanyl sold as? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl is sold in the following forms: a powder, spiked on blotter paper, mixed with illegal drugs, or as pills.

Fentanyl Side Effects

Since fentanyl buccal tablets and even skin patches have similar effects to opioids, it’s not unusual that they can cause some serious side effects. Depending on the length of the fentanyl use, side effects can be short-term or long-term. CDC health and many public health advisories have outlined many potential effects of fentanyl use. 

• Altered heart and breathing rate
• Euphoric sensations
• Hallucinations and psychosis
• Itchy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Profuse sweating
• Seizures

Long-term effects of fentanyl use are a bit more intense and serious. It usually means that the drug user has engaged in prolonged fentanyl use. Depending on the situation, these side effects may be permanent. They may show that the body has undergone some type of irreversible damage. Common long-term effects include:

• Frequent mood swings, like depression
• Increased risk for anoxic injury
• Multiple organ system damages from oxygen deprivation
• Poor judgment in all aspects of life
• Social anxiety, which leads to social isolation
• Worsened mental health and condition

Long-term effects may be due to brain damage. Fentanyl use, especially overdoses, can cause both cardiac and respiratory depression. It’s fairly rare for most people to experience some of the more serious side effects. These side effects tend to mean that there’s something horribly wrong. It’s important to speak to a doctor immediately, as it may not be suitable for the patient. Some serious side effects include:

• Cold, clammy skin
• Confusion with hallucinations and unusual thoughts and behaviors
• Pale skin paired with easy bruising or bleeding
• Shallow or weak breathing paired with a slow heart rate

Signs of a Fentanyl Overdose

Fentanyl drug overdoses are some of the deadliest overdoses ever. This potent opioid easily and quickly diffuses through the blood-brain barrier. It then attaches to opioid receptors. The potency of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs means that the effects kick in immediately. Even a small dose can have a potent effect.

Overdose death rates have risen 540% in the last 3 years. Knowing how to spot an overdose is crucial. Those who spot an overdose early can seek medical attention immediately. This may reduce the lethality of the overdose. The signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include:

• Bluish nails and lips
• Coma
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Pinpoint pupils
• Slowed heartbeat
• Weak muscles

In simpler terms, fentanyl drug overdoses often look like heroin overdoses. The drug users will experience both cardiac and respiratory depression. They may end up looking like their falling asleep. The truth is that they’re losing consciousness. Eventually, they will stop breathing. These signs and symptoms are the same regardless of whether a drug user has snorted fentanyl or is using fentanyl skin patches.

When someone is overdosing on fentanyl, call 9-1-1 immediately. Acting quickly may save that person’s life. While it may save their lives, the overdose may still cause significant damage to the body. Most drug users who have experienced an overdose may struggle with permanent brain damage.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes how dangerous fentanyl and fentanyl analogs can be. They have put out many overdose prevention campaigns in hopes of raising awareness.

What Is A Lethal Fentanyl Dose?