Fentanyl Awareness

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is both a prescribed drug, as well as a drug that is at times made and used illegally. Like morphine, prescription fentanyl is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. 

Fentanyl can be found in liquid, powdered, and pill form. It is important to be cautious if offered anything in the forms mentioned because a small dosage can be fatal.  

Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the US. Due to its potency there is a risk of a person becoming dependent on the drug, which can lead to addiction. Fentanyl is also being mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is especially risky when people taking drugs don't realize it may contain fentanyl and increases their risk for overdosing.

  • Falling asleep or losing consciousness 
  • No response to stimuli like shouting, a pinch, or sternum rub
  • Slow/weak or no breathing 
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Cold and/or clammy skin
  • Discolored skin - especially in nails and lips
  • Small constricted "pinpoint pupils"

To help reverse the effects of opioid overdose - Naloxone is an approved FDA medication that can help undo some opioid related breathing problems. If you are interested in receiving Naloxone kits and training please email SCCOOPP@hhs.sccgov.org. For more information on Naloxone please visit the links below:

If you or someone you know uses drugs, it's important to know that there are resources available to help you.

Fentanyl Awareness

Types of FentanylDifferent forms of fentanyl: pill, powdered, and liquid

Fatal DoseA fatal amount of fentanyl next to a penny