DRUG USERS THINK
FACTS ABOUT FENTANYL
Getting it Right! Talking Points for Fentanyl There is still a lot we don’t know about Fentanyl and USU is doing everything we can to ensure that we have the most accurate information available on the subject. 1. The current fentanyl crisis began around 2013 and at this time was mainly sold as an adulterant mixed with heroin. This mixed product was being sold under the banner of “heroin” even though it contains both heroin and fentanyl. 2. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is about 50 x stronger than heroin. 3. Fentanyl is around 100x stronger than morphine 4. Fentanyl has a rapid onset with a shorter duration of effects, so there is some limited evidence that may suggest compulsive use and repeated administration, which increases the risk of fatal overdose. 5. We have found around 33 fentanyl analogs to date 6. Fentanyl is not naloxone resistant and none of the fentanyl analogs are naloxone resistant. 7. Fentanyl cannot be absorbed through the skin. 8. In states like Ohio, crime lab reporting showed that the majority of cocaine and methamphetamine products that were confiscated by law enforcement and tested positive for fentanyl were in seizures under 30 grams; and of those, a majority were in products less than 1 gram. (Although these trends are only recently being reported with great toxicological detail, they confirm that fentanyl adulteration of cocaine and methamphetamine is occurring, but at the end of the supply chain, the place where smaller products are broken down into smaller portions meant for consumption—not distribution—and “cut” with fentanyl.)
