OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Thank you for exploring our fact sheet series. To learn more about substance use and mental health, check out our other fact sheets. To find local resources, check out the Coast to Forest County-Specific Resource Guides. For a variety of national and state-focused resources, please visit our Helplines & Practical Tools page.
Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid that can be used to cut other substances, meaning that people may not even be aware they are consuming it.1 Since 2012, fentanyl-involved overdoses have risen at a rate 2.5 times that of heroin.7
Fentanyl is dangerous because even a very small amount can be lethal, with less than 2 mg (0.00007 ounces) leading to certain death, without intervention.7
Between April 2019-April 2020 fentanyl was involved in 42,687 overdose deaths.7
A lethal dose of heroin is 100 mg, but a lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 mg, with doses as small as 0.25 mg, equivalent to a single grain of sand, placing the person at a high risk for overdose.7
Fentanyl is used as a pain reliever in very small doses after surgery.2
Fentanyl is sometimes given intravenously in very small doses as an anesthetic or used in combination with another anesthetic for procedures.4
Any recreational use is Illegal.2
Depends on amount consumed and method of use:
Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Jackpot, King Ivory, Murder 8, and Tango & Cash.1
Abstral®, Actiq®, Duragesic®, Fentora®, Lazanda®, Subsys®¹
Fentanyl works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and interrupting the signaling of pain between the central nervous system (CNS) and the body.3
While fentanyl works similarly to morphine, it is roughly 100 times more potent and 50 times more potent than heroin for pain relief.1
Over time the body becomes less sensitive to fentanyl usage, meaning that larger quantities of the drug are required to gain the same effect. This can lead to fentanyl addiction.2
Given the symptoms of withdrawal, a person may need medical supervision to ensure their safety during the process.8
An overdose can be intentional or unintentional, and is when a large enough dose of fentanyl is taken to have serious adverse health effects, including life threatening symptoms or death.2
Fentanyl is increasingly being used to cut other drugs including heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. Not only does this increase overdose risk, but patients may be unaware they are consuming fentanyl.2
In the event of an overdose, naloxone can be administered. However, due to the potency of fentanyl, multiple doses of naloxone may be needed.2
Studies have shown that a combination of medical and therapeutic interventions is the most effective treatment.2
Fentanyl was synthesized in 1960 as an intravenous anesthetic and went on the market in the U.S. in 1968.6
Transdermal fentanyl was developed in the 1980s and was subsequently used for pain management in cancer patients.6
Lozenge (or lollipop) fentanyl was developed in 1984 and was presented as a “child-friendly” form. This form was approved in 1993 to be given pre-surgery for painful surgeries involving children and adults.6
Rapid-onset delivery systems were developed and sold starting around 2007-2008 and come in a variety of forms including nasal, buccal, and sublingual transmucosal forms.6
This fact sheet was developed by the Oregon State University Coast to Forest team, a collaboration of the College of Health, OSU Center for Health Innovation and OSU Extension Service Family & Community Health program. We would like to thank the H 310 Health Field Experience students for their contributions.
For more information and to explore local resources, check out the Coast to Forest County-Specific Resource Guides.