Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid with a potency 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Its use in fatal and non-fatal overdoses continues to wreak havoc in the United States.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutically manufactured and illegally manufactured. Both are considered synthetic opioids.

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed for the treatment of severe pain after surgery and in advanced stages of cancer. It is consumed only on prescription and under medical supervision.

At the same time, the most recent cases of fentanyl overdose are associated with fentanyl distributed in illicit drug markets due to its effect similar to that of heroin.

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Synthetic fentanyl is sold as pills, drops on blotting paper, in eye drops, or nasal spray bottles. Photo: DEA

Which products contain fentanyl?

Fentanyl powder is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, to create very dangerous and deadly mixtures. The worst part is that they are sold and consumed without really knowing what they contain.

However, synthetic fentanyl is also sold as drops on blotting paper, in eye drop containers or nasal sprays, as explained by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

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What Effects Does Fentanyl Produce?

Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl acts on parts of the brain that control pain and emotions. After use, the brain adapts and its sensitivity decreases, making it difficult to feel pleasure with anything other than the drug.

The effects of fentanyl include:

What happens in a fentanyl overdose?

Fentanyl, like other synthetic opioids, can cause death if overdosed. Most dangerously, because of its potency, two milligrams can be a lethal dose, slightly larger than two grains of salt.

According to the DEA, a dose that fits on the tip of a pencil can kill a person. In fact, between 150 and 250 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl in the United States.

Recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose can save a life: