The opioid crisis in the United States currently claims more than 50,000 lives annually—a truly shocking number caused largely by fentanyl. The drug, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is several times more powerful than heroin. When administered properly under strict medical supervision, it is a legitimate and effective painkiller. Yet fentanyl abuse results in the deaths of approximately 150 people nationwide every day. Sadly, many of these victims are teenagers.
So why is fentanyl so harmful, and what is being done to save lives? Click through this gallery to learn more about the drug that’s killing America.
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Fentanyl, the opioid that is killing America
The opioid crisis in the United States currently claims more than 50,000 lives annually—a truly shocking number caused largely by fentanyl. The drug, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is several times more powerful than heroin. When administered properly under strict medical supervision, it is a legitimate and effective painkiller. Yet fentanyl abuse results in the deaths of approximately 150 people nationwide every day. Sadly, many of these victims are teenagers.
So why is fentanyl so harmful, and what is being done to save lives? Click through this gallery to learn more about the drug that’s killing America.
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What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an analgesic (painkiller) and anesthetic.
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Potent and powerful
According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the synthetic opioid is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.
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Two types of fentanyl
There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally manufactured fentanyl. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and in advanced cancer.
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Correct use of fentanyl
When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be given as an injection, a patch that is stuck to the skin, or a lozenge that is sucked like cough drops, explains the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
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possible side effects
The adverse effects of pharmaceutical fentanyl are identical to those of other narcotic opioids and include dependence, confusion, and respiratory depression.
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The danger of overdose
Fentanyl must be taken with caution and under strict medical supervision, as fentanyl can act very quickly depending on the method of administration. Even taking a relatively small amount can lead to an overdose.
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A small amount can be fatal
In fact, a dose of two milligrams of fentanyl powder (here on a pencil tip) is fatal for most people.
Bild: Drug Enforcement Administration
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High price to pay
Here you can see the same amount of fentanyl next to a US penny measuring 19 mm wide.
Bild: Drug Enforcement Administration
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Illegal fentanyl
Most fentanyl-related overdoses are caused by illegally manufactured fentanyl. The picture shows a DEA agent with a sample of the drug seized during a drug raid.
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Street names
According to the DEA, fentanyl sold illegally on the street goes by a variety of names, such as Trigger Happy, He-Man, China Girl, Murder 8 and Poison, and is available in a variety of forms, including liquid and powder.
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Deadly combination
Illegal fentanyl is cheap to produce. Unscrupulous dealers often mix fentanyl with drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine to maximize profits. Fentanyl can also be manufactured in pill form and mixed with other counterfeit pills (see image).
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Full of dangers
By making fentanyl pills similar to other prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, people may not be aware that their medications are laced with this extremely dangerous narcotic.
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National Crisis
The United States is currently facing a crisis of overdose deaths, a fact that the Department of Justice pointed out as early as 2017. In 2021, more than 106,000 Americans lost their lives to an overdose – including more than 1,100 teenagers that year alone, CNN reports.
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Gloomy statistics
By 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 150 people per day will die from a Overdose synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. That is a staggering 54,750 human lives per year.
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“The Faces of Fentanyl”
The problem is so acute that the DEA has set up an exhibit called “The Faces of Fentanyl” at the agency’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The special exhibit commemorates the people who have died from fentanyl poisoning. Ray Donovan (pictured), head of the DEA, recently said the opioid crisis is “the most dangerous epidemic we have ever seen.”
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A new threat
And the DEA has warned of a new threat in the United States, namely an animal tranquilizer called xylazine, which is increasingly found in the country’s illicit drug supply and has been linked to overdose deaths. Xylazine can be life-threatening and is especially dangerous when combined with opioids such as fentanyl. Pictured is U.S. Senator Charles Schumer holding a photo of a bottle of xylazine and a letter from the DEA warning the public of the danger at a press conference.
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Instantly fatal
The fight against fentanyl is complicated by the fact that while street drugs can contain lethal amounts of fentanyl, you can’t see, taste or smell it. “Fentanyl is not like any other illegal drug; it’s instantly lethal,” warned Ray Donovan of the DEA.
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Counterfeit Fentanyl
In 2023, the DEA seized more than 78.4 million counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and nearly 5.4 tons of fentanyl powder. These 2023 seizures equate to more than 388.8 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
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Millions of lethal doses
And the amount of fentanyl seized in 2024 equates to over 41.1 million lethal doses so far. The bags of heroin pictured here contain some with fentanyl.
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Anti-Drug Campaign
The DEA’s current anti-drug campaign is titled “One Pill Can Kill” – a reference to the fact that just 2 mg of fentanyl is a potentially lethal dose.
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Highly addictive and frequently abused
Oxycodone, another highly addictive and commonly abused drug, is also in the crosshairs. The picture shows a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, Trade and Cargo Division, seizing oxycodone pills at John F. Kennedy Airport.
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Citywide health warning
Meanwhile, New York City officials have been distributing fliers warning of the dangers of illegal opioids. The statement reads, in part: “FENTANYL IS KILLING NEW YORKER. It appears in heroin, cocaine, street pills called Xanax and other drugs. It is involved in more overdose deaths than ever before.”
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Effects of an overdose
The effects of an overdose include small, constricted “pupil dots”, loss of consciousness, cold or clammy skin, and discolored skin (especially on the lips and nails).
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Life-saving medicines
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that, when administered in a timely manner, can reverse an overdose of opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. It takes effect within two minutes when given intravenously, within five minutes when injected into a muscle, and within ten minutes when given as a nasal spray (see figure).
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Fentanyl test strips
Fentanyl test strips are a cost-effective way to prevent drug overdoses and reduce harm. These small paper strips can detect the presence of fentanyl in all types of drugs.
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Prince (1958–2016)
The dangers of drug use became even clearer when it was announced that Prince had died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl. According to Associated Press It later emerged that the musician was unaware that he was taking the dangerous drug, which was laced with fake pills designed to look like a generic version of the painkiller Vicodin.
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Tom Petty (1950–2017)
Tom Petty died after taking a cocktail of drugs to combat a variety of medical problems. An autopsy revealed a combination of fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, among other prescription drugs.
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Mac Miller (1992–2018)
The cause of death of American rapper and singer Mac Miller was determined to be acute combined drug intoxication, that is, accidental ingestion of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.
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Angus Cloud (1998–2023)
And “Euphoria” actor Angus Cloud was just 25 years old when he died of an accidental fentanyl overdose.
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Fentanyl is killing America
While these high-profile deaths serve to shine a spotlight on the dangers of drug abuse, it is the many hundreds of thousands of young people who have died from fentanyl that keep this powerful opioid in the eyes of the disapproving public.
Quellen: (FDA) (DEA) (NIDA) (Cleveland Clinic) (CNN) (CDC) (Associated Press) (Rolling Stone) (Forbes)
See also: Dopamine: Are we all addicted?
