The Danger of Fentanyl

Deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids (not including methadone) rose a staggering 72 percent in just one year, from 2014 to 2015 and continue to rise. Government agencies and officials of all types are rightly concerned by what some are describing as the third wave of our ongoing opioid epidemic.

As a concerned psychotherapist and addiction specialist, working with individuals and families — the following are the most important things to understand about fentanyl.
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1. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine. It is a schedule II prescription drug typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic® and Sublimaze®. Fentanyl is measured in micrograms not milligrams, which should give you an idea of how strong this synthetic opiate is.
2. It is relatively cheap to produce, increasing its presence in illicit street drugs. Dealers use it to improve their bottom line. According to a report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, evidence suggests that fentanyl is being pressed into pills that resemble OxyContin, Xanax, hydrocodone and other sought-after drugs, as well as being cut into heroin and other street drugs. A loved one buying illicit drugs may think they know what they’re getting, but there’s a real risk of it containing fentanyl, which can prove deadly.
3. Naloxone (Narcan) will work in case of overdose, but extra doses may be needed.Because fentanyl is far more powerful than other opioids, the standard 1-2 doses of naloxone may not be enough. Calling 911 is the first step in responding to any overdose, but in the case of a fentanyl-related overdose the help of emergency responders, who will have more naloxone, is critical.
4. Even if someone could tell a product had been laced with fentanyl, it may not prevent their use.Some individuals claim they can tell the difference between product that has been laced with fentanyl and that, which hasn’t, but overdose statistics would say otherwise. Some harm reduction programs are offering test strips to determine whether heroin has been cut with fentanyl, but that knowledge may not be much of a deterrent to a loved one who just spent their last dollar to get high. I recently received a sample of Xanax that someone bought on the dark web. I sent it in to my toxicology lab and came back laced with Fentanyl.
   
5. ​Getting a loved one into treatment is more critical than ever.

If you need help in determining a course of action, feel free to call me.

Thom Kessler, LMFT, RAS
[email protected]
415-454-8931