Despite the fact that fentanyl-laced street drugs have been in existence for the past few years, health workers began to notice a spike in fentanyl overdoses and deaths. The eff ects of fentanyl are indistinguishable from those produced by nasal inhalation of street heroin. In view of this, and because of very low production costs, fentanyl is very “attractive” for the narcotics market. Fentanyl has been used for decades in anaesthesia, sedation, and pain management. Its very low price makes fentanyl an “evergreen”, and in today’s climate of cost-consciousness, hospital administrations push its use, and avoid promoting newer and more specific opioid drugs. However, fentanyl use in hospitals has been correlated with complications and abuse in patients and health-care providers.
Killer fentanyl: a lesson from anaesthesiology
FODALE, Vincenzo;
2006-01-01
Abstract
Despite the fact that fentanyl-laced street drugs have been in existence for the past few years, health workers began to notice a spike in fentanyl overdoses and deaths. The eff ects of fentanyl are indistinguishable from those produced by nasal inhalation of street heroin. In view of this, and because of very low production costs, fentanyl is very “attractive” for the narcotics market. Fentanyl has been used for decades in anaesthesia, sedation, and pain management. Its very low price makes fentanyl an “evergreen”, and in today’s climate of cost-consciousness, hospital administrations push its use, and avoid promoting newer and more specific opioid drugs. However, fentanyl use in hospitals has been correlated with complications and abuse in patients and health-care providers.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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