Introduction
Fentanyl also spelled as Fentanil, is from the opioid family and is considered the strongest form of opioid, mainly used to treat pain. With the help of other medications, Fentanyl is used for anesthesia. Fentanyl is considered to be a hundred times strong compared to any other form of opioid; morphine is an example of an opioid. Fentanyl has the same purpose as morphine, where it is used to successfully treat the pain of patients who come from surgery. Therefore, Fentanyl is a synthetic form of opioid but stronger than any normal opioid on the market, approximately fifty to a hundred more times (Pergolizzi et al. 45). The drug is prescribed by a physician but is used illegally sometimes. Fentanyl, amongst other synthetic opioids, is the most common drug in America, with a higher rate of abuse, leading to a significant number of deaths related to a drug overdose. An historical background on the opioid and how fentanyl is abused would help educate the general public and youths specifically on the current crisis of opioids in the country and negative impacts it has to people’s health and society as a whole.
Brief Historical Background of Fentanyl
Paul Janssen first designed fentanyl as a powerful anesthetic and analgesic opioid in the 1960s. During that time, Fentanyl was considered the fastest reactive opioid to be discovered. However, to date, Fentanyl remains the most powerful of all opioids. Since then, intravenous, transdermal, and trans-buccal fentanyl distribution has been devised, approved, and applied in surgical performances for anesthesia and managing severe chronic and cancer pains making the drug the most applied and used synthetic opioid in healthcare practices. According to Dai et al., from 1979 to 2016, the United States of America registered about 599,255 reported cases associated with a drug overdose. An indicator of the rapidly rising mortality rate. Mortality rates linked to fentanyl opioids have been greatly linked to youths and younger adults aged 20 to 40 years since 2013 (Dai et al. 4). Since 1979, Fentanyl has been manufactured in laboratories across the globe and sold as substitutes for heroin or mixed with other illegal drugs for example, cocaine leading to the significant overdose deaths linked to Fentanyl.
How Fentanyl is Used
Fentanyl is administered in shots where a portion is put on a patient’s skin. However, the illegal use of the strong authentic opioid has risen, and its manufacture is traced back to the major labs in the country. The strong authentic opioid, Fentanyl, is illegally sold as a powder, in nasal sprays, or in pills taking form of other prescribed opioids (Barton et al. 16). Furthermore, cartels mix fentanyl with other drugs. For example, cocaine because with Fentanyl, a high-quality product, is produced, thus, making it a cheap alternative to mix with their desired drugs. Moreover, the mixture becomes dangerous to the users as they are not aware of the cheap and dangerous addictive opioids in the substances they use.
Crisis of Opioids
The crisis of opioids in the nations is alarming, considering the cases related to drug abuse have been reported annually. Fentanyl is caused a major threat in the opioid crisis considering that two to three milligrams of the drug can lead to the death of the user compared to other prescribed opioids. The threat associated and linked to Fentanyl has many sides that need careful analysis to take control of the crisis once and for all to save the community. For example, Fentanyl has been produced for pain medication legitimately in many laboratories in the country for a long time. At the same time, it is produced in some black markets in China. The article “Fentanyl: The Next Wave of The Opioid Crisis” reveals that most drug lords and cartels receive opioids to mix with their products from the black markets in China (Barton et al. 17). Furthermore, illicit Fentanyl is hard to detect compared to the legit and prescribed Fentanyl making it difficult to curb the usage and overdose of the opioid in our community since it also can be openly purchased on the web or the dark webs (“Man Indicted for Mailing Deadly Fentanyl to Dallas Resident, 10 Others” par. 3). Resulting to increased criminal operations in the area.
The side effects of Fentanyl are making its abuse even deadlier. Reports from the article, “Fentanyl: The Next Wave of The Opioid Crisis” reveal that between 2014 and 2015, in the state of Oregon, forty-nine people died of Fentanyl usage, and the statistics produced lately reveal there has been an increase in the number of death tolls related to the abuse of the opioid, Fentanyl (Barton et al. 15). As various government and health industry authorities work tirelessly to reduce the death tolls associated with drug abuse, we must ask ourselves about the various strategies that can be put in place to fight the threat, combat its spread, and limit its effects on our population.
The recent opioid overdose crisis in America is significantly attributed to the high illicit manufacture of Fentanyl in laboratories located in Mexico and China. Pergolizzi et al. argue that Fentanyl is shipped through the borders of America as a prescribed drug, either as a precursor or illicitly manufactured Fentanyl (IMF). Research done by Pergolizzi et al. reveals that in 2019 about 70,630 people died of a drug overdose in America which is estimated to be a rise of four percent, 4% of the preceding years (Pergolizzi et al. 44). Many overdose death tolls in America are attributed to the overdosage and use of fentanyl opioids.
The mortality rates have reduced between 2018 and 2019. However, Pergolizzi et al. reveal that there has been a geographic shift associated with the increased opioid overdose deaths in eight states across America, including Arizona, Colorado, California, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, and Oregon, where in the previous years, the overdose deaths were mainly concentrated in the east of Mississippi (Pergolizzi et al. 46). The recent increase in overdose deaths linked to Fentanyl has caused discomfort in the community. The third wave began around 2013 and was mainly caused by the flooding of synthetic opioids in the American Market.
The Mexican-based transnational criminal organization (TCO), famously referred to as the cartels, is the major threat to dealing with the overdose deaths linked to abuse of Fentanyl in America as they are responsible for drug trafficking of illegal drugs ranging from marijuana to Fentanyl. Mexico and China cannot be left behind in the sag as they are the main manufacturers of Fentanyl. Generally, Fentanyl is a product that has attracted the attention of the TCO mainly because it can be produced without raising attention or being suspected by the authorities compared to marijuana and heroin, which requires an extensive tract of land for effective production (Pergolizzi et al. 47). Fentanyl is the driving force behind the current dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths. With the current evidence from the increased shipment on the southern border of the products, the death tolls are likely to increase in the future.
A recent analysis of the distribution of Fentanyl has indicated an increase in its distribution lately. The flow of opioids as of 2019 into the states of America is more diverse than the opioid crisis as of 2014 (Fentanyl flow to the United States par. 2). Various factors contribute to the increasing crisis in fentanyl-related overdose deaths and must be dealt with. Considering the increased global supply of fentanyl and fentanyl-related drug substances, it has to be approached from a three-dimensional approach. Furthermore, the factors mentioned above hinder law enforcement from curbing the flow of fentanyl and fentanyl-related drug substances into America, explaining the reason behind the increased overdose death subjected to opioids despite the issue being on the radar of the federal authorities. Despite China and Mexico being the primary producers or manufacturers and trafficking of Fentanyl and fentanyl-related drug-related substances, recent studies have shown India is becoming the major producer of finished fentanyl powder and chemicals.
It is anticipated that in the future, the flow of Fentanyl in the American market is likely to become more diverse if everything as of now is held constant. India’s emergence as the main producer of finished fentanyl powder and substances and China’s new regulations impact how the TCOs operations will be handled, with the production of the opioid likely to expand. It is anticipated that if China regulations are enacted effectively, TCOs from Mexico are likely to benefit as they will assume the role of larger production and supply of Fentanyl in the American market.
How Fentanyl Functions
However, an individual can overdose on the opioid, considering that regular consumption of the fentanyl opioid will make the human brain adapt to the drug making the brain have decreased sensitivity leading to regular loss of moods when the body lack fentanyl. Fentanyl functions by binding with the body’s opioid receptor found in the human brain, which is responsible for controlling emotions and pain (Sivakumar et al. 77). Fentanyl is considered to be an overdose when the individual shows symptoms and signs that are adverse and life-threatening. When victims overdose on Fentanyl, they experience a slower breathing rate. The slow breathing rate is because of insufficient oxygen in the brain.
However, the overdose of Fentanyl can be treated by administering a recommended dosage of Naloxone. Naloxone works immediately by combining with the opioid receptors in the victim’s body to hinder the effects of the opioid drug. Therefore, the public is advised once they witness a victim of Fentanyl related overdose, they dial 911 for immediate help or administer Naloxone immediately. Naloxone is available for use and given through a needle or nasal spray.
Effects of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is beneficial during clinical aesthetic surgery practices and when relieving pain in patients. However, increased use of Fentanyl impacts the nervous, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems in the human body, leading to various side effects. For example, digestive problems, nausea, constipation, and vomiting are symptoms that exhibit themselves amongst patients that frequently use the opioid (McGriff et al. 66). Moreover, opioids, more specifically Fentanyl, have reported having additional side effects, including dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, and increased risk of bearing fractures amongst elderly consumers. Its frequent use leads to addiction. Studies show that between 2004 and 2018 in the United Kingdom, UK, America, and Europe, there has been an increase in the cases of Fentanyl linked misuse, abuse, withdrawal, and dependence which has led to deaths and prolonged hospitalization of patients and victims that use Fentanyl (McGriff et al. 66). Additionally, there has been an increase in mental disorders; for example, depression and suicide cases resulting from abusing Fentanyl.
The mental disorders lead to a higher mortality rate, relapse rate, and respiratory depression. However, it is the treatment of the mental disorders that will help to fight and combat the fentanyl-related deaths and help victims achieve abstinence that would lead to a healthy living. Respiratory depression is the most lethal side effect caused by the adverse reaction to Fentanyl (McGriff et al. 66). Therefore, heavy consumption of Fentanyl has adverse health side effects in connection to adaption that requires medication from physicians.
However, the diversity of Fentanyl in the American community does not only affect the population’s health condition that leads to the rapid increase of the mortality rates linked to fentanyl overdose; it harms the economy and social life of the current populations. Crime rates that extend east of Mississippi have increased significantly with increased criminal operation in the quest to stop the trafficking of Fentanyl across the southern borders of America. The increased operations have made locals live-in fear, hindering them from performing their daily activities (“US Border Agency Says It’s Made Biggest-Ever Fentanyl Bust” par. 1). Although there have been increased operations to alter the distribution and supply chain of Fentanyl and the trafficking of the drug, there is still a challenge to overcome the adverse impact related to a fentanyl overdose in America, for example, the increased number of deaths which has rapidly increased recently.
Conclusion
In summary, the strong synthetic opioid known as Fentanyl was developed to cure pain in patients after successful surgery and in aesthesia. However, its nature of easy production has led to an increased number of laboratories in Mexico and China that are the leading manufacturers of Fentanyl. With the increased number of laboratories and the operation of TCOs, the war against the fentanyl crisis is unlikely to end anytime soon. The rapid surge of overdose deaths linked to Fentanyl heavy consumption amongst the American population is proof that there is a need to roll out guidelines on the prescription of Fentanyl and use international communities’ relations departments to reduce the manufacturing activities of Fentanyl in China. It is essential to equip and reinforce security agents and departments to deal with TCOs’ activities as they are the major threat and reason behind the increased distribution of Fentanyl as it is mixed with illegal drug substances. The effects on addiction and health related side effects when using Fentanyl has caused more harm to the population on American soil since its first development in the 1960s by Paul Janssen. Therefore, despite the advantages associated with fentanyl the side effects which result to the massive death tolls related to over dose of fentanyl exceed the advantages and it is essential to adjust our systems to combat the illegal use of fentanyl amongst the youths who are mainly affected by excessive consumption and adaptation of fentanyl.
Works Cited
Barton, Joe, et al. Fentanyl: The Next Wave of the Opioid Crisis. 2nd ed., USGI, 2022, pp. 15-200, Web.
Dai, Zheng et al. “Fentanyl and Fentanyl-Analog Involvement in Drug-Related Deaths.”Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 196, no. 8, 2019, pp. 1-8. Elsevier BV, Web.
Fentanyl Flow to the United States. DEA, 2020, pp. 1-4, Web.
“Man Indicted for Mailing Deadly Fentanyl to Dallas Resident, 10 Others”. FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, 2019, Web.
McGriff, Shelby A. et al. “Reinforcing Effects of Fentanyl and A Fentanyl Analog Found in Illicit Drug Markets.” The FASEB Journal, vol 36, no. 6, 2022, p. 66. Wiley, Web..
Pergolizzi, Joseph et al. “Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl Entering the United States.”Cureus, vol 8, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45-48. Cureus, Inc., Web.
Sivakumar, Walavan, et al. “Postoperative Pain Control with The Fentanyl Patch and Continuous Paravertebral Anesthetic Infusion After Posterior Occipitocervical Junction Surgery.”Cureus, vol 5, no. 6, 2016, p. 77. Cureus, Inc., Web.
“US Border Agency Says It’s Made Biggest-Ever Fentanyl Bust.”FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, 2019, Web.