The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published the following information in order to prevent fentanyl overdose.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Most of both the fatal and non-fatal overdose cases registered in the United States are due specifically to fentanyl overdose.
There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Doctors prescribe pharmaceutical fentanyl to treat severe pain, especially after surgical operations and in patients with advanced stages of cancer.
However, recent overdose cases are linked to the illicit manufacture of fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets because its effect is similar to that of heroin. It is often added to other drugs, making them cheaper, more potent, more dangerous and capable of causing strong addiction.
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is available in various forms, including liquid and powder.
Powdered fentanyl looks the same as many other medicines. It is usually mixed with drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, and made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids. Medicines containing fentanyl are extremely dangerous, and many people may not know that their medicines contain fentanyl.
In liquid form, NPS can be found in nasal sprays and eye drops, which are dripped onto paper or small candies for consumption.
Fentanyl and overdose
Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common substances leading to overdose deaths. Even use in small doses can be fatal. More than 150 people die every day from overdoses of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Drugs may contain a lethal dose of fentanyl, and you cannot see, taste or smell it. It is practically impossible to determine whether drugs contained fentanyl unless you test them with fentanyl test strips.
Test strips are inexpensive and usually give results within 5 minutes. Even if the test is negative, be careful, as test strips may not detect more potent drugs similar to fentanyl, such as carfentanil.
Signs of overdose
Recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose can save a life. Here are some signs to look out for:
- Constricted pupils
- Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
- Slow, weak or absent breathing
- The person is choking or there are gurgling sounds when breathing
- Flaccid body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Discoloration of the skin (especially on the lips) and nails
What to do if you suspect that someone has overdosed
It may be difficult to determine whether a person has actually overdosed. If you are not sure, you should treat it as an overdose — you may save a life.
- Call an ambulance immediately.
- Administer naloxone, if available.*
- Try to keep the person from falling asleep and monitor their breathing.
- Place the person on their side to prevent suffocation.
- Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives.
*Naloxone is a life-saving medicinal product that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save a life.
The original text of the publication is available at the linkhttps://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html
