Fentanyl: Emerging Threats and Harm Reduction Strategies-Resource

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The document discusses the impact of fentanyl in the opioid epidemic and highlights emerging threats in the United States related to opioids. It categorizes harm-reduction strategies in response to these threats. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has contributed to a significant number of drug overdose deaths, with 64% of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical and illicitly manufactured. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is used for pain management, while illicitly manufactured fentanyl is mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Fentanyl-laced drugs can be extremely dangerous as users may be unaware of the presence of fentanyl. The document also mentions street names for illicitly manufactured fentanyl, such as Apache, Dance Fever, and Tango & Cash. The Biden-Harris administration has designated fentanyl laced with xylazine as an "Emerging Threat" in the U.S. Xylazine has been associated with skin ulcerations. To address these challenges, harm reduction strategies are recommended. Two key strategies mentioned are fentanyl test strips and naloxone. Fentanyl test strips are accessible, easy to use, and inexpensive tools that can detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs. Naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, is FDA-approved for over-the-counter use. The document concludes by referencing various sources and offering additional information on the topics discussed.

Keywords

fentanyl

opioid epidemic

emerging threats

harm-reduction strategies

synthetic opioids

drug overdose deaths

illicitly manufactured fentanyl

fentanyl-laced drugs

pharmaceutical fentanyl

naloxone