Fentanyl: The Deadly Cousin

Introduction to the substance 

Public health emergencies such as the overdose on opioid have contributed to the intensification of policies that prevents its usage. Fentanyl is an example of an opioid that is synthetic and is stimulating. The increased cases of abuse of fentanyl are alarming. Its usage has surpassed homicide as a factor that contributes to high mortality in the United States of America (Sutter et al., 2016). It has a ramification to the public health and safety of people in a specific country. Fentanyl: the deadly cousin falls under the category of harmful drugs due to intense usage and effects on people and society. 

History of the substance including uses (legal or illegal) 

Dr. Paul Janssen and the Janssen Company of Beers, Belgium, performed the first synthesis of Fentanyl: the deadly cousin in December 1960. Europe and the United States of America first used this drug as an intravenous analgesic and Innovar in 1963 and 1968, respectively (Stanley, 2014). The potency aspect of Fentanyl contributed to its preference as a drug that would aid in treatment of pain in human beings. Its legal usage entails the prescription to patients who need long terms relief from severe pain. It also relieves pain after surgery. It is swallowed, snorted, and injected as a form of heroin that relieves pain. 

Effects of the substance on the body 

Short-term effects 

Nausea, vomiting, and constipation. 

Immunosuppression is also another side effect prevalent among the elderly. 

Long-term effects 

Higher risk of fractures, Hallucinations and Vertigo. 

Impact of the substance on society 

The increased illegal usage of Fentanyl has contributed to high death rates among American youths and older adults. The situation contributes to low labor productivity due to the reduced numbers of productive members of society. It has also led to increased cases of mental illness in form of depression, insomnia, and other psychiatric illnesses (Han et al., 2019) . The government uses a lot of funds to control the diseases leading to stalling of their developmental agendas. A mentally ill society is unproductive. 

Current policies/regulations of the substance 

The introduction of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, as a law enforcement agencies is an example of a regulation method. The unit detects fentanyl users and creates awareness of its effects on society and the individuals (Goodison et al., 2019) . The unit also use enforcements methods such as arrest and forced medication of fentanyl addicts. The creation of the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement unit (J-CODE) has contributed to the prevention of online sales of Fentanyl. Earlier, people had access to online supplies of this illicit drug. 

Treatment options for addiction to the substance 

Treatment option A 

Naloxone is an example of a drug used to treat Fentanyl after an overdose. It has a high affinity for opioid receptors. Naloxone up to 12 mg may efficiently cure fentanyl overdose . It also reverses transdermal Fentanyl overdose-induced sedation (Han et al, 2019). Although, this treatment has challenges such as the side effects, its usage has aided in the reduction of the cases of overdose with Fentanyl. 

Treatment option B 

The use of Lofexidine as a principal α 2 -adrenergic receptor agonist also forms the treatment procedures for Fentanyl. It was approved by the FDA contributing to the relevance and legality of its usage in the treatment of side effects and repercussions of Fentanyl (Bardwell et al., 2019). It is safe as compared to other receptor agonizts. The method is therefore vital as a procedure for prevention of Fentanyl. 

Conclusion including suggestions to alleviate abuse of the substance 

The prevalence in the usage of Fentanyl has contributed to the formation of units such as Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit and Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement unit (J-CODE) to reduce its usage. The side effects of Fentanyl are hallucination, confusion, and vertigo among others. The substance contributes to low productivity, mental illness and overdose that can be treated by use of Lofexidine and Naloxone. Every government should intensify an awareness campaigns on the side effects and negative repercussion of fentanyl usage ad sales to reduce its prevalence. 

References 

Bardwell, G., Wood, E. & Brar, R. Fentanyl assisted treatment: a possible role in the opioid overdose epidemic?.  Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy    14,  50 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-019-0241-2 

Goodison, S., Vermeer, M., Barnum, J., Woods, D., & Jackson, B. (2019). undefined.  https://doi.org/10.7249/rr3064 

Han, Y., Yan, W., Zheng, Y., Khan, M. Z., Yuan, K., & Lu, L. (2019). The rising crisis of illicit fentanyl use, overdose, and potential therapeutic strategies.  Translational Psychiatry ,  9 (1).  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0625-0 

Stanley, T. H. (2014). The fentanyl story.  The Journal of Pain ,  15 (12), 1215-1226.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2014.08.010 

Sutter, M. E., Gerona, R. R., Davis, M. T., Roche, B. M., Colby, D. K., Chenoweth, J. A., Adams, A. J., Owen, K. P., Ford, J. B., Black, H. B., & Albertson, T. E. (2016). undefined.  Academic Emergency Medicine ,  24 (1), 106-113.  https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.13034