What is Fentanyl, and Why is It So Dangerous?

Fentanyl is often prescribed and used by medical professionals to help alleviate the short and long-term pain experienced by many patients recovering from injuries and surgical procedures. As a synthesized opioid, the drug is extremely powerful, with a potency of 50 to 100 times that of morphine.

National Center for Health statistics show that of the 64,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016, 20,145 were due to fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Drug deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl more than doubled from 2015 to 2016. The increase in these deaths is up 540 percent over the last 3 years.

What is fentanyl used for?

As an opioid, fentanyl travels through the blood of the individual until it eventually reaches the brain. The drug binds itself to opioid receptors on certain brain cells. When this takes place, a calming effect is produced which includes the numbing of pain, slower breathing, and a euphoric feeling. A distinct difference between fentanyl and other opioids is the speed with which it produces these effects.

Fentanyl is a Schedule II prescription drug. Along with its use in controlled medical settings to treat patients with post-surgical pain it is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain conditions who have not found relief from other drugs or opioids. When given to patients, fentanyl must be controlled very carefully in its use according to strict guidelines to prevent addiction or overdose.

When this drug is prescribed by a doctor, it is most often administered through injection, lozenges, or via transdermal patch. Fentanyl has been used as a prescription drug since the 1960s. The illegal use of the drug can be traced back to the 1990s. However, only in the second decade of the 21^st century has its use skyrocketed. For instance, there were seven times as many confiscations of the drug in 2015 as compared to 2010.

Fentanyl’s extreme dangers

The high produced by the drug is quickly replaced with a feeling of withdrawal The reason is due to the power of the initial euphoria it produces, which is nearly 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

The extreme danger posed by fentanyl is its potential to completely stop the breathing of the user. Areas of the brain that regulate breathing rate also host opioid receptors. Very high doses of opioids such as fentanyl can shut down breathing, leading to death.

If you are suffering an injury due to the effects of a dangerous drug you were prescribed, such as fentanyl, you may have the right to obtain compensation. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we can investigate your situation thoroughly, determine your options, and move forward to help obtain justice and recover damages. To schedule a free appointment to review your case, call us at 803-327-7800 or send us an email through our contact form.