Fentanyl

Course overview

Almost two million individuals have an opioid use and addiction disorder in the United States. The annual deaths per year from prescription and illicit opioid overdose are alarming. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and the opioid crisis or epidemic is getting worse. Statistics for fentanyl use and addiction, a synthetic opioid that has been estimated to be 50-100 times stronger than morphine, are equally concerning in terms of burden to the health system, morbidity and mortality. Treatment of a fentanyl overdose begins with a clinical assessment of a patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation. Reversal with the use of naloxone is discussed, as well as opioid overdose education and distribution of intranasal naloxone to lay persons and law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel for quick intervention.