Classification/Creation
What kind of drug is Fentanyl? (Stimulant, Hallucinogen, etc.)
Opioid
What is Fentanyl's primary purpose in medical use?
Pain reliever
Fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain, which are responsible for feelings of pain, reward, and addiction. This effect on the brain induces what feeling?
Euphoria.
What is the term for when an individual has taken a potentially unsafe amount of Fentanyl?
Overdose.
It someone accidentally comes into skin contact with Fentanyl, what is the best course of action?
Wash area quickly with soap (don't use hand sanitizer), keep the area away from the face, and do not panic.
What is the source of most Fentanyl in the U.S.?
Drug cartels in Mexico.
What is/are common ways in which Fentanyl is taken illicitly?
Smoking, snorting, injecting.
Ultimately, how does Fentanyl kill someone?
Depresses central nervous system, including parts of the respiratory system. This indirectly causes asphyxiation.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, what percent of tenth graders reported using illicit substances in 2023.
20%
~50x
1959
What is/are common ways Fentanyl is taken medically?
IV, Transdermal Patch, Buccal Films
If someone has taken Fentanyl, they may have what color edges around their mouth?
Blue/Gray
Fentanyl is a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. Why is this so? (Hint: the answer is NOT its lethality).
Fentanyl is often unknowingly laced in illicit/recreational drugs.
If Fentanyl is administered via an IV injection, how long does it take before it has an effect?
30-seconds to 2-minutes.
While Fentanyl is completely synthetic, Heroin and Morphine can at least in part be derived from what natural component?
The opium poppy plant.
Fentanyl patches are placed on what part of the body to administer the drug slowly?
The skin
After a dangerous dosage of Fentanyl, naloxone (narcan) is often administered to delay dangerous effects. How long will this delay typically last?
30-90 minutes
75%
Carfentanil, an analog of fentanyl, is so potent that it is too dangerous for human use. What can it be used for?
Carfentanil has been used as a powerful tranquilizer/sedation on elephants in veterinary medicine.
What is the main reason why Fentanyl analogs pose great challenges to law enforcement and public health?
Fentanyl analogs often bypass detection/regulation due to small changes that result in new and unknown chemical compounds.
What term describes the process by which users become less responsive to fentanyl’s effects over time, leading to increased dosage and a higher risk of overdose?
Tolerance
2-4 hours, around 5-6 half-lives.
What public health crisis worsened by the rise of fentanyl has led to increased overdose deaths, widespread addiction, and changes in government/hospital regulation.
The opioid epidemic
A lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams (0.002 grams). What percent of that amount is typically administered to adults with opioid tolerance for medical purposes (typically via IV)?
About 2-5%