Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is well-known for its extreme potency. Either way, that might seem like a high cost for a small amount of drugs. However, fentanyl is chosen by illegal drug producers and drug dealers for its strength and affordability. Its inclusion makes street drugs more potent and cheaper to make, driving its frequent use in the production of illicit substances. It must be introduced into the bloodstream or a mucus membrane in order for someone to feel the effects. While there are fentanyl patches that can be placed on the skin for pain management, this is not the formulation that’s cut into other substances.
Do not stop taking your other pain medication(s) when you begin your treatment with fentanyl. If you stop taking your other pain medication(s) you will need to stop using fentanyl. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance, and has been responsible for many fatal overdoses in the past several years. Read on to learn more about it and help protect your loved one.
How Do People Take Fentanyl?
The high potency of fentanyl means that small quantities can satisfy large markets, making it economically attractive to traffickers. These market dynamics underscore the need for approaches that address both supply reduction and demand through treatment and harm reduction services. Fentanyl, regardless of its form, is extremely potent and dangerous. Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal for the average person. When fentanyl is mixed into other drugs, it cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and it’s nearly impossible to distinguish counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from legitimate ones.
How Much Does Fentanyl Cost On The Street?
When someone with an opioid use disorder misuses fentanyl, it is usually illegally manufactured fentanyl rather than a prescription product. For example, the person may obtain it as powders or pills or add it to containers such as eyedroppers or nasal sprays. Street names for fentanyl include Apache, China Girl, Goodfellas, Great Bear, and Tango & Cash. A tiny dose of fentanyl, about the size of 10 to 15 grains of table salt (2 mg), is enough for a lethal dose, which is why so many drug users fall victim to drug overdose deaths. For people who are addicted to fentanyl, there are safe and effective treatments available. Scientists are also working on opioid vaccines that would cause a person to develop antibodies to particular opioids and block their effects.
What To Do If You Think Someone Has Overdosed
This cluster of vendors receives fentanyl from a supplier based in Shanghai, China. Elliptic’s investigation into the role of crypto in the fentanyl trade has uncovered that these rules are often not strictly enforced. Many vendors still sell fentanyl on mainstream dark web markets, disguised using names such as “China White” and hashtags such as “fetty” or “synthetic”.
Medical Uses
This is particularly dangerous if an individual who uses illegal substances like heroin or intentionally misuses prescription drugs is unaware that fentanyl could be in it. Prescription fentanyl is FDA -approved to treat severe pain related to surgery or complex pain conditions. Over the past decade, fentanyl that is made and distributed illegally has become increasingly common in the illegal drug supply and has contributed to a surge in drug overdose deaths. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain medication as well as a common contaminant found in illicit drugs. The antidote naloxone (Narcan) can reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose if given in time.
They can be used to test injectable drugs, powders, and pills. If you choose to use fentanyl, there are some practices that can help you minimize the risk of an overdose. Here are a few recommendations so you can be in control of your experience.
Fentanyl is extremely potent and is considered to be up to 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. A single dose of fentanyl is considered to be 100 mcg-400 mcg and can cost around $2 or less on average in 2025, depending on the location of sale, what the fentanyl is cut with, and other factors. Typically, prescription drugs sold on the street are not sold in increments this small. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid and prescription medication renowned for its potency, is employed in medical settings to manage severe pain. It may appear as a powder similar in appearance to other drugs, such as cocaine.
How To Reduce The Risk Of A Fentanyl Overdose
Because fentanyl is about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, even a very small dose of fentanyl can be deadly. Using a drug that has been contaminated with or replaced by fentanyl can greatly increase the risk of a life-threatening overdose. However, an emergency medicine called naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose related to fentanyl. Initial reports of fentanyl abuse were linked to prescription products, but in recent years, illicit fentanyl has become the most commonly abused form.
Why Is This Medication Prescribed?
If someone who has overdosed does not have a pulse, start CPR. Once the heart and brain have gone without oxygen for a while, naloxone will not work. This is why it is so important to administer naloxone as soon as possible.
Overdose Prevention
If you live in King County you may be able to order free fentanyl test strips through an online order form. Fentanyl overdose often comes on much faster and stronger than a typical opioid overdose. In some cases, a person’s chest may become very stiff (called “chest wall rigidity” or “wooden chest”). This can make it harder for the victim to breathe and for a responder to do chest compressions. There is no way to know how much fentanyl is in something based on look, smell, or taste.
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But the Postal Service and its foreign counterparts do not. That’s precisely why sellers prefer the US Postal Service over FedEx or UPS. When you compare the average cost of a single dose of each of these, it is easy to see why fentanyl makes a cheap substitute or filler.
Although fentanyl patches are a legal form of the drug doctors sometimes prescribe for pain, they are easily abused. People may take the gel out of the patch and either put it in their mouth or inject it. When it’s in powdered form, it looks a lot like other powdered drugs such as cocaine.
- There can also be false positives (showing that fentanyl is present when it really isn’t).
- You can get them free through some outreach programs, such as needle exchanges or overdose prevention programs.
- The transdermal patches can last for up to 12 to 24 hours after the patch has been removed.
- “It took time to create this opioid epidemic, and it is taking time as we learn how to best combat it. There is hope, and there is treatment that works, is safe and is effective.”
Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. Be sure to schedule appointments with your doctor on a regular basis so that you do not run out of medication. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication. If your loved one is struggling with opioid use, the resources below may be helpful. Receive free access to exclusive content, a personalized homepage based on your interests, and a weekly newsletter with the topics of your choice.
