Fentanyl is an opioid drug that acts upon the opioid receptors in the brain.
Pharmaceutical fentanyl that has been prescribed safely and effectively for severe pain for over 50 years, and is among the most commonly used pain management drugs during childbirth. In medical settings, fentanyl is used during some surgical procedures. It is also prescribed as a treatment for chronic pain patients who have a high tolerance for opioids. In medical settings, fentanyl comes in several forms. These forms include liquid, tablets, lozenges, and skin patches. Medical-grade fentanyl is made by pharmaceutical companies. Experts agree that our overdose crisis is not driven by diverted medical-grade fentanyl, but by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl can be used safely under medical supervision, in small doses, and when appropriate precautions are taken. (DPA)
Illicitly manufactured synthetic fentanyl is made and sold outside of the controls and safety of the pharmaceutical market. Chemically identical to pharmaceutical fentanyl, but due to the unregulated nature of the illicit market ensuring quality, dosage, concentration, and avoiding cross contamination with other substances is more difficult.
*make a note about this being the driver of increased OD rates + the forms it is sold in pills, powder or crystal form. ?
