The dangers of fentanyl are well-documented and real. To stem the tide of overdose deaths brought on by this opioid’s misuse, a local medical expert suggests taking a cue from what he called a successful anti-smoking campaign aimed at young people.
First, what is fentanyl? According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, “Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.
“There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdoses are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.”
Dr. Tanvir Singh can attest to fentanyl’s dangers. He’s the medical director of UTMC’s inpatient detox unit, and is board certified in both child and adolescent psychology and recovery services. Fentanyl’s proper use is to manage pain in acute post-operative patients and terminal cancer patients, he said. Made in domestic laboratories and distributed illegally, it’s dangerous because, he said, “you don’t know how strong it is until you take it.”
He echoed the CDC’s explanation of fentanyl’s appeal. People with an addiction develop a high tolerance for drugs, and as they continue to be users, they need something stronger to get the same feeling. Fentanyl is ideal because it’s more potent and is cheaper than other opioids.
Yet it’s a killer. Dr. Singh explained that fentanyl kills through respiratory depression. “The person stops breathing because it acts on the receptors in the brain that involve breathing,” he said. This can happen within seconds of taking the drug. “It can incapacitate you, and you cannot do much about it. You can’t call 911 yourself. Unless somebody’s there with you, you cannot save yourself.”
How to address the dangers of fentanyl? “The key is prevention,” he said. When people don’t get positive feelings from the natural course of their lives, they look for other sources. Prevention can be in the form of positive reinforcements, socialization, exercise, “good, healthy activities,” he said. “More and better social life, healthy sources of entertainment, sports.”
Hand in hand with prevention, he said, is education about the dangers of fentanyl. He points to the success of the anti-smoking campaign of years ago aimed at young people. That worked largely, he said, because of the simplicity of the message, which was focusing on a lung damaged by smoking. “Young people need to get a very clear message.” He said photos of a black lung resonated with young people who cared about their physical selves.
There also needs to be treatment for fentanyl abusers. “We’re doing better in treatment; there’s easier access. The government has put in tons of resources. But still the key to success is prevention. That’s where society plays a big part.” When educating young people, for instance, about fentanyl, someone hearing that message may not be misusing the drug but knows someone who might be and can step in to offer help.
Dr. Singh added that the dangers of fentanyl don’t stop with the abuser. To continue the smoking analogy, it’s like secondhand smoke. The fentanyl abuser’s actions have consequences for others at work, on the road, in family situations, and in society overall.
As Dr. Singh summed up: “We all feel the brunt of drug abuse.”
Dennis Bova is a freelance writer and editor. ✲
