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The fentanyl overdose data in the United States are alarming. For example, in 2004 about 8,000 people went to emergency rooms across the country due to a fentanyl overdose, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that fatal fentanyl overdose cases have been in the hundreds since late 2005.
As a synthetic, prescription-only analgesic (painkiller), Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It's an extremely powerful Schedule II narcotic whose distribution is carefully monitored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Fentanyl is prescribed for patients who are in severe and intractable pain, often from causes such as incurable cancer. It's often administered in the form of a transdermal patch (the Duragesic patch), orally in tablet form (Fentanyl oralet), or as a lollipop containing fentanyl (for patients who have trouble swallowing).
A fentanyl overdose can occur when a Duragesic patch leaks. Two very large recalls of defective, potentially leaky Duragesic patches were issued in recent years. The edges of some of the patches were not properly sealed, and an overdose of the extremely potent fentanyl could result.
In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory about the fentanyl overdose risk presented by Duragesic patches. There had already been reports of fentanyl overdose-caused deaths among individuals using the Duragesic fentanyl patch.
Many people have tried to use fentanyl illegally, by getting forged prescriptions or buying fentanyl mixed with cocaine or heroin on the street. The frequent fentanyl overdoses in these cases are often first identified as heroin overdoses, in part because black-market fentanyl is often mixed with larger amounts of heroin to bring down the price.
American cities such as Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have all seen fentanyl overdose cases. Detroit seems to have the most fentanyl overdoses. A Wayne State University study noted that the city accumulated more than 100 fentanyl deaths in a recent 12-month period.
Patients with legitimate prescriptions may also overdose on fentanyl, particularly when the painkiller is prescribed for off-label uses to those who do not have a tolerance for opioid medications. Medications containing fentanyl—such as the Duragesic pain patch—have very specific uses, and when doctors prescribe outside of these uses, a patient may be at risk of a fentanyl overdose and fentanyl side effects.
If you have concerns about the powerful narcotic fentanyl and the risk of fentanyl overdose, contact us today to arrange a consultation with a fentanyl attorney.
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