Beyond Ecstasy

WATCH OUT: Fentanyl Hits the Streets!!!

Dr u g I n t er acti on s? Toxicology of fentanyl

Fentanyl is a depressive agent. It depresses the central nervous system and respiratory function. Due to this, over exposure to fentanyl can be fatal. It is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and 100s of times more portent than heroine.

Drug Interactions: Fentanyl should not be used at the same time with macrolide antibiotics or azole-antifungal agents, and protease inhibitors. The use of fentanyl and these three drug classes should be avoided because it can increase the plasma concentrations of fentanyl which increases the opioid drug action and exacerbating the opioid induced respiratory depression.8

L aw s

The possession of fentanyl is a felony. Possessing even the smallest amount of fentanyl will lead to felony charges. If one possesses more than a gram worth of fentanyl, they will be looking at third and second-degree felony charges. If a person is in possession of a certain amount of fentanyl, really depends on the state, they can be charged with a first-degree felony.5 When it comes to prescription fentanyl it is dosed in mcg per hour, and can be prescribed in many ways like a spray, a patch, a transdermal lozenge, buccal tablets, etc.6

Monitoring/Drug Screens:

There are fentanyl testing strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs before a person uses the drug. This can help prevent fentanyl overdosing.

When a patient is given fentanyl in the hospital, the doctor might have to change the dosages of medicines and will monitor the patient very carefully.7

Professional Opinion:

Fentanyl will always be a problem until people quit producing it, which will be never. I think because of this the regulations on it should be kept the same, and if someone is caught with it, they should be charged with a felony. I also believe all adults should be taught on everything wrong and current going on with fentanyl. They should be taught how to test for fentanyl in drugs. They should be taught how to give Narcan to reverse an overdose for fentanyl and other drugs like it I believe they should be taught all about this because drug dealers are starting to produce fentanyl has tiny colorful tablets to sell them to kids and get them addicted. This is a current problem going on called “Rainbow Fentanyl.” L. Eckert

Image: Jones C. Education on fentanyl, other drugs often optional in California schools, if offered at all. EdSource. Published October 5, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://edsource.org/2022/education-on-fentanyl-other-drugs-often-optional-in-schools-if-offered-atall/679216.

References: https://www.thehopehouse.com/opioid-addiction/related/fentanyl-street-names/. https://www.kevinbennettlaw.com/drug-charges/possession-of-fentanyl/.

1. Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division Drug. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/fentanyl.pdf.

2. Drug fact sheet: Fentanyl - dea.gov. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.dea.gov/sites/ default/files/2020-06/Fentanyl2020_0.pdf.

3. Slang for fentanyl (street names). The Hope House. Published July 24, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2022.

4. Fentanyl - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed October 10, 2022. https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459275/. 5.

5. Possession of fentanyl. The Law Office of Kevin Bennett. Published April 22, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2022.

6. Fentanyl Dosage. Drugs.com. Last Updated March 31, 2022. Fentanyl Dosage Guide + Max Dose, Adjustments - Drugs.com

7. Fentanyl test strips to prevent drug overdose. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/documents/ftsforph.pdf.

8. Fentanyl: Medlineplus drug information. MedlinePlus. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605043.html.

9. Fentanyl: Incapacitating agent. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published May 12, 2011 Accessed October 10, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/ emergencyresponsecard_29750022.html.