Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, and it exists in two primary forms: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally manufactured fentanyl. Both types are created in a laboratory setting.
Deaths involving illegally made fentanyl are on the rise across the United States. In 2022, synthetic opioids, predominantly illicit fentanyl, were implicated in approximately 68% of all overdose fatalities in the U.S. The number of both nonfatal and fatal overdoses related to fentanyl has increased dramatically in the last decade. A critical danger is that fentanyl can be present in other drugs without the user’s knowledge, as it is undetectable by sight, taste, or smell.
Fentanyl test strips are an inexpensive tool that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs within 5 minutes. This rapid detection can be life-saving. However, it’s important to note that these test strips may not detect very potent fentanyl-like substances such as carfentanil.
Addressing the fentanyl crisis requires a multi-faceted approach. It’s essential to ensure high-risk individuals have access to appropriate care and to expand prevention and response efforts. Promoting harm reduction strategies is also vital. This includes increasing the availability of harm reduction services, which aim to minimize the negative consequences of drug use and reduce the stigma associated with substance use and overdose.
In 2020, the CDC issued a Health Alert Network Advisory recommending several actions: expanding the distribution and use of naloxone and overdose prevention education, increasing access to treatment for substance use disorders, early intervention for high-risk individuals, and improving overdose outbreak detection for a more effective response.
Additional Resources:
- National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws
- DEA – One Pill Can Kill
- 2022 National Forensic Laboratory Information System – Drug Annual Report
- SAMHSA overdose-prevention-response toolkit
- SAMHSA’s Harm Reduction
- Fentanyl Drug Facts – National Institute on Drug Abuse
If you suspect a poisoning or overdose, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
