What you need to know about fentanyl

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(NewsNation) — Overdose deaths in the U.S. have been on the rise in recent years, many of them attributed to fentanyl.

Lawmakers have called for more action to address the fentanyl crisis, including preventing cartels from smuggling the drug across the southern border. There are also concerns about fentanyl being mixed with other drugs, potentially causing overdoses in those who aren’t even aware they are taking fentanyl.

Here’s what you need to know about the drug.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a pain-relieving medication.

What does fentanyl look like?

Fentanyl produced by pharmaceutical companies for legitimate use is usually delivered as a lozenge or a patch worn on the skin. It can also be administered as an IV in hospital settings.

However, fentanyl can be made into many forms, including pills, powder or liquid. Pills can be made to look like other opioid medications, and the powder can be mixed with other drugs, leading to people unknowingly ingesting the drug.

What is fentanyl used for?

The FDA has approved fentanyl for treating severe pain, typically from advanced stages of cancer or after surgery. It can also be used as an anesthetic.

How is fentanyl made?

Unlike morphine, which is produced from a specific variety of poppy flower, fentanyl is made in a lab using precursor chemicals.

Why is fentanyl so dangerous?

Fentanyl is dangerous both because of its strength, which makes it easy to overdose, as well as the fact that it can easily be used to lace other drugs or made to look like prescription narcotics that are weaker.

How long does fentanyl stay in your system?

According to research, fentanyl can stay in someone’s system for up to five days.

What does fentanyl do to you?

Fentanyl acts on the receptors in the brain that control pain and emotion. In addition to reducing pain, it can also produce a feeling of extreme happiness. As someone uses more fentanyl, the more difficult it becomes to feel happiness without the drug, helping fuel the cycle of addiction.

Fentanyl has a long list of side effects, including unconsciousness, trouble breathing and death.

How much fentanyl can kill you?

The amount of fentanyl required to kill someone varies based on a number of factors, including the person’s size and if they have built up a tolerance to the drug. But doses as small as two milligrams can be fatal.

How are fentanyl overdoses treated?

Fentanyl, like other opioids, can be treated with naloxone. Naloxone is available in all 50 states without a prescription and comes in an injectable form used by medical personnel and a nasal spray that can be used by anyone.

Always call 911 if someone is experiencing an overdose. While naloxone will act in an emergency to reverse an overdose, more treatment is needed.