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Fentanyl is a highly destructive drug, 50 times more potent than heroin and up to 100 times more so than morphine.
Its growing consumption has been a cause for alarm for US authorities, given that approximately 70,000 people died from it in the US last year alone, usually as a result of overdoses caused by the narcotic.
Although its consumption in Mexico has not generated the same level of public health concern as in the United States, the drug is already circulating on Mexican territory.
Health authorities have warned that this substance is one of the most dangerous due to the degree of addiction it generates and, most worryingly, the serious effects it has on health.
The issues surrounding this drug have caused the exchange of statements between the governments of the United States and Mexico, but both authorities agree on one thing: they need to stop the distribution and consumption of fentanyl.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid commonly used to relieve severe pain in patients who have undergone major surgery, while it can also be used to treat cancer patients.
The drug can be found in the form of a transdermal patch, tablets and injectable solutions.
It can also be used in combination with other medications, such as anesthetics and sedatives.
Despite its legitimate medical use, Fentanyl has become an increasingly common illicit drug due to its potency and addictive effects. But, abuse of this substance can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
What serious effects does fentanyl have on the drug taker?
People who use fentanyl can have serious side effects, including suppression of breathing, coma and death.
Short-term effects of this dangerous drug include euphoria, drowsiness, confusion, nausea and vomiting.
Long-term effects include addiction, tolerance (requiring increasing doses to achieve the same effect) and physical dependence (the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and lack of the drug causes withdrawal symptoms).
Fentanyl use can also have serious mental and emotional health consequences. People who abuse fentanyl may experience depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings. They may also have problems with memory and concentration.