Learning about Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
• It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used t treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery.3 It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids.4 Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.
• Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder1.
• Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl.
• In its liquid form, IMF (Illicitly Manufactured Fentanal) can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies.

Fentanyl is a potent FDA approved opioid pain killer. Which is often pressed into pill form to look similar to many prescribed pills such as Percocet and Xanax drugs. This can also come in liquid form. Illegally made fentanyl can be found as a replacement for heroin. This narcotic has been known to be packaged as nasal spray and eye drops. Fentanyl can also be dropped onto

paper in liquid form.

Rainbow Fentanyl is a newer phenomenon that has different color dyes incorporated into the and pressed into colorful pills to avoid detection and may potentially be more appealing to teens and young adults. Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through laboratory testing that this is the case

.

Something that has been proven and available without perscription in all 50 states is Nalaxone (also known as Narcan). This is a life saving medictation that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Narcan comes in an injectable form as well as a nasal spray. It works by blocking the effects of opioids and can restore normal breathing in 2-3 minutes. It is unstood that the effects of narcan are not long lasting, averaging 30 minutes. It is understood that patients who are administered narcan can feel the harsh symptoms of withdrawal due to the immediate effects of the medication.

Recognizing a fentanyl overdose can save someone’s life. Here are the signs you should look for:

● Small, constricted “pinpoint” pupils

● Falling asleep or losing consciousness

● Slow, weak, or not breathing

● Choking or gurgling sounds

● Limp body

● Cold and/or clammy skin

● Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)

According to CDC and Prevention: