fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is used primarily for managing pain. It is legal to use fentanyl when prescribed by a doctor and purchased from a pharmacy. Many people use fentanyl to manage pain problems, but it can be very dangerous if misused. In the United States, nearly 100,000 people die each year from fentanyl overdoses. Fentanyl is one of ten titles in the Young Adult Drug Library series. Nine titles spotlight a major drug or type of drug (such as painkillers); discuss the negative physical and mental effects of the addiction on the addict and the potential benefits of their use (for certain legal drugs); and provide an overview of treatment strategies for the addiction. The last title, Facts & Figures, provides readers with the "big picture" regarding drugs, including their pros and cons; how they are made, distributed, sold, and used; why they are abused or misused; and treatment options for those who become addicted. Stories of those who are battling drug addiction are also featured in the series in order to humanize these issues.

"An amount of fentanyl equal to only about two grains of salt can be fatal. In recent years, fentanyl and other deadly synthetic opioids have become common in the United States. While drug use has not changed a lot, drug overdose deaths have increased considerably. The main cause of this dramatic increase is widely believed to be fentanyl and other synthetic opioids"--Provided by publisher.

Provides information about the effects of fentanyl and how it contributes to the ongoing opioid crisis.