What Is Fentanyl?
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl (FEN-tih-nil) is an opioid drug that’s synthetic, or made in a lab. Doctors can prescribe it to treat pain, but fentanyl is also made illegally and sold as a street drug. It’s often mixed with other street drugs — like xylazine, heroin, or cocaine — to increase their effects, make a drug more addictive, or lower the cost.
Even in very small doses, like the size of a few grains of salt, fentanyl can be deadly.
What Does Fentanyl Do?
Fentanyl works by blocking pain messages from reaching the brain. It makes someone feel high and can also cause:
- drowsiness
- nausea
- vomiting
- urinary retention (not being able to pee)
- slowed breathing
In some cases, fentanyl can cause death.
What Does Fentanyl Look Like and How Is It Used?
Illegally made fentanyl comes in liquid and powder forms. It can be made into pills, used as a nasal spray or eye drops, injected, or dropped onto paper or candies. Sometimes it is made to look like prescription medicine.
People don’t always know that fentanyl is being mixed into their street drugs.
Medical Uses
Sometimes doctors give patients fentanyl during surgery so they don’t feel pain. Doctors may also prescribe fentanyl to relieve severe pain after surgery or for chronic pain caused by conditions like cancer.
What Else Is Fentanyl Called?
Fentanyl is also known by slang or street names like:
- Apache
- Dance Fever
- Goodfellas
- Jackpot
- Murder 8
Is Fentanyl Addictive?
Fentanyl is highly addictive. That means it’s easy to develop very strong cravings for it and keep taking the drug even when it causes problems with a person's health, relationships, and money.
The body gets used to having fentanyl. So, when people try to stop using the drug, the body still wants it and they often have withdrawal symptoms like:
- feelings of panic
- trouble sleeping
- bad chills and sweats
- muscle pain
- stomach cramps
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
Fentanyl Exposure During Pregnancy
If someone takes fentanyl during pregnancy, the drug can pass to the baby. This can cause problems like being premature (born too early) or weighing too little. After birth, fentanyl isn’t reaching the newborn anymore, so the baby may have neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, or symptoms of no longer having an opioid in the body. Babies will need medical care to get healthy.
Fentanyl can also pass to the baby through breast milk.
Can You Overdose on Fentanyl?
Yes. People may overdose (take too much) because they don’t realize how strong fentanyl is, or how much they’re taking. When someone uses too much, it can slow breathing, sometimes dangerously, which is how overdose deaths from the drug happen.
Deaths from overdoses of synthetic opioids like fentanyl are a public health crisis in the United States. The trend of mixing xylazine with fentanyl has made this situation even worse.
Signs of Overdose
Someone who is overdosing might:
- have small, “pinpoint” pupils
- pass out
- have slowed or no breathing
- be limp
- have blue lips and nails
- make choking or gurgling sounds
What Should I Do If Someone Is Overdosing?
If you think someone might be overdosing:
- Call 911.
- Give naloxone (brand name Narcan), if available.
- Lay the person on the side to prevent choking in case there’s vomiting.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing. Start rescue breathing and chest compressions (CPR) if needed.
- Stay with the person until emergency help arrives.
It’s not always clear if someone is overdosing. Even if you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose. Giving Narcan to someone who is not overdosing isn’t harmful.
What Else Should I Know?
How Can I Prevent My Child From Using Fentanyl?
To help protect your child, talk about fentanyl and other drugs and their dangers. Regular chats can make kids less likely to experiment with fentanyl or other drugs that might have fentanyl in them. Being open to talking about these topics with kids can help them have reliable information rather than relying on friends for answers. Also, review media use so your child knows to come to you if there’s online talk about drugs.
What If My Child Uses Fentanyl?
If your child is using fentanyl or another street drug that could have fentanyl in it, try to stay calm and have a talk. First, ask why your child is taking it. Maybe it’s to feel more relaxed or to fit in. Together, find healthier ways to feel better. For example, getting more sleep, exercising, and eating healthy often helps kids have less stress. Or come up with social activities where drug use isn’t involved.
Your doctor can help as well by talking to your child and seeing if medicine is needed to treat any conditions that may be causing symptoms. Doctors can also suggest treatment programs (texting, online, and in person), if needed.
For more on treatment options, visit Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).