Facts About Fentanyl

Dangers of illicitly manufactured fentanyl

The surge of illicitly manufactured fentanyl flooding this country is driving a lethal new phase of the US opioid epidemic. Just 2 mg of fentanyl – the amount shown in the photos below – has the potential to cause a deadly overdose.

As fatal overdoses reach record-breaking levels, it is important to remember that each one of us has the power to potentially save another person from a deadly fentanyl-related overdose. How? By being prepared for an opioid overdose emergency and carrying a lifesaving naloxone medication like KLOXXADO® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray 8 mg.

The images above are used with permission from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA).⁵

Fentanyl contamination

Drug dealers also sometimes mix fentanyl in with other illicit drugs, for example stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, without the user’s knowledge. Some of them do this not only to “stretch” their inventory, but also to create a final product that is more addictive. This means that all illicit drugs could be at risk of being potentially deadly if unknowingly laced with a lethal amount of fentanyl. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths.

The DEA Laboratory recently found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, 6 out of 10 contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

Criminal drug networks are mass producing and distributing “fake pills”—counterfeits of prescription medications that can be laced with fentanyl such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), antianxiety medicines like alprazolam (Xanax®) and stimulants/amphetamines (Adderall®)—with the intention of deceiving the American public.^*

Think you can’t be fooled? See if you can tell the difference between the real and counterfeit prescription drugs below.

* All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The images above are used with permission from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA).⁷

These are just examples and do not represent the endless varieties of fake pills currently available. Never trust your own eyes to confirm that a pill is legitimate. The only safe medications are those prescribed by your doctor and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy in a container with your name on it.⁷

Fentanyl overdose

Fentanyl is one of the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. It takes up less space than other opioids (like heroin), so it’s easier to smuggle and transport. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, so fentanyl contamination in both opioids and non-opioids is virtually impossible to detect. In a recent string of 500 suspected fentanyl poisonings in St. Louis, for example, more than half of the people did not know what they were taking.

Taking an illicit substance without knowing if it contains fentanyl or not is risky, to say the least. Adding to the danger is how quickly fentanyl can cause an overdose.

Risk factors for fentanyl overdose

Anyone taking opioids, including prescription fentanyl, could be at risk for accidental opioid overdose. You may be at a higher risk of accidental fentanyl overdose if you take opioids and:

• Mix fentanyl with other illicit substances, such as benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamine
• Have a past history of fentanyl overdose
• Take fentanyl again after a short period of not taking it
• Have low or no tolerance to opioids
• Combine fentanyl with certain prescription drugs, including prescription opioids
• Purchase and use illicitly manufactured fentanyl
• Use a substance that may contain fentanyl without others nearby to intervene, if needed

KLOXXADO® and opioid overdose reversal

Because fentanyl is so powerful, an overdose can set in within minutes or even seconds. As in all cases of opioid overdose, it’s important to reverse the effects of the drug and get the person breathing again as quickly as possible. Average EMS response time in an opioid emergency is 13 minutes, but permanent brain damage can occur after just 4 minutes without oxygen.

During an opioid overdose, every moment matters. If you are concerned about a loved one or have children or teens who might be influenced to experiment with drugs, it’s time to talk about opioids and KLOXXADO®. KLOXXADO® provides an option for 8 mg per spray in a single dose.