Fentanyl Facts

What is Fentanyl?

  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.
  • Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin.
  •  Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse.
  • Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin
  • Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl.
  • which often results in overdose deaths.

Clandestinely-produced fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico

How does it affect the body?
Similar to other opioid analgesics, Fentanyl produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, pupillary constriction, and respiratory depression.

Street Names:

  • Apace
  • China Girl
  • China Town
  • China White
  • Dance Fever
  • Goodfellas
  • Great Bear
  • He-Man, Poison
  • Tango & Cash

How is it used?

  • Intense, short-term high
  • Temporary feelings of euphoria
  • Slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Fainting
  • Seizures
  • Death

Source: www.dea.gov

Fentanyl In Arizona: 

Source: @PhoenixPolice on Twitter (February 20, 2021)

In 2020 alone, state numbers show more than 2,000 Arizonans overdosed on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that did not exist five years ago.

2020 data from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows fentanyl is linked to 40.9% of drug overdoses and is showing to be the most fatal opiate.

The DEA also found a new variant of fentanyl in 2020 called para-fluorofentanyl that agents believe is more addictive and likely more deadly, leaving a grim reality ahead in 2021.

Source: 12 News - (https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/more-than-2000-arizonans-overdosed-from-fentanyl-in-2020-dea-anticipates-problem-to-grow-in-2021/75-b796bf6d-3e9b-4c70-ac78-05c009d3c4c0)