Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug, similar to morphine or heroin but far more potent, that is manufactured entirely in laboratories and has no natural ingredients. In medical settings, it is approved for treating severe pain, such as post-surgical or cancer-related pain, when prescribed and carefully monitored. However, the majority of fentanyl linked to overdose deaths in the United States is produced and distributed illegally.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is significantly more powerful than many other opioids, with even a very small amount capable of causing a fatal overdose. As little as two milligrams — roughly equivalent to a few grains of salt — can be lethal, particularly when taken unknowingly. The drug often appears as a hidden ingredient in counterfeit prescription pills or is mixed into other illicit substances such as heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine, increasing the risk for users who may not realise they are being exposed to fentanyl.
