Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine.

Fentanyl 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. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.

However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose 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.

 

Deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl are on the rise.

Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl, and you wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl.

 

Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder.

Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. In its liquid form, IMF can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies.

Street names for illicitly manufactured fentanyl:

  • Apache

  • Dance Fever

  • Friend

  • Goodfellas

  • Great Bear

  • He-Man

  • Poison

  • Jackpot

  • Murder 8

  • Tango & Cash

  • China Girl

  • China Town

  • China White

 

What to do if someone is overdosing

Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose and save lives. Get FREE Narcan now.

It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose - you could save a life.

✔ Call 911 Immediately

✔ Administer Narcan

✔ Try to keep the person awake and breathing

✔ Lay the person on their side to prevent choking

✔ Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives

* Most states have laws that may protect a person who is overdosing or the person who called for help from legal trouble. ** PAIN is a licensed Narcan distributor in the state of California and the leading provider in the Central Valley.
 

Signs of an overdose:

Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose can save a life.

✔ Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”

✔ Falling asleep or losing consciousness

✔ Slow, weak, or no breathing

✔ Choking or gurgling sounds

✔ Limp body

✔ Cold and/or clammy skin

✔ Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)

Can fentanyl use lead to addiction?

Yes. Fentanyl is addictive because of its potency. A person taking prescription fentanyl as instructed by a doctor can experience dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. A person can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, but dependence can sometimes lead to addiction.

Addiction is the most severe form of a substance use disorder (SUD). SUDs are characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that can be difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. When someone is addicted to drugs, they continue to use them even though they cause health problems or issues at work, school, or home. An SUD can range from mild to severe.