The opioid crisis endures to be a huge civic health concern in the United States of America as well as globally. The impact of fentanyl on the prevalence of non-fatal overdoses between those who apply narcotics is little understood, despite fast increases in fentanyl-related mortality across the country in recent years. Studies have revealed that syringe services program clients are prone to overdose, which is most likely attached to the exposure of fentanyl compounds. The article aims at explicitly analyzing the different sources of fentanyl compounds in the context of the opioid crisis as well as in the regulatory framework. It further brings into detail the normal routes of exposure of fentanyl compounds in the area of the rising cases of the opioid and regulatory framework.
Sources of Fentanyl compounds in the opioid crisis context
There are several sources of the fentanyl compound concerning opioid crisis and regulatory framework which includes but is not limited to high uptake of naloxone pieces of training, syringe services programs as well as contaminations by the said compound. To start with, high uptake of naloxone training becomes the leading source of the fentanyl compound in the context of the opioid crisis. Naloxone refers to a prescription drug that is capable of stopping the effect of opioids.
Naloxone refers to opioid receptor antagonist, which means that it links to opioid receptors and either reverses or prevents the effects of other opioids from being experienced (Park et.al, 2018). The administration of naloxone rapidly rears the effects of opioid drugs, allowing the patient to resume normal breathing conditions. An injection or a nasal spray can be used to administer the drug. Excessive consumption of naloxone leads to an opioid crisis and thus it should be moderated.
Also, another source of this compound in the opioid crisis context is the syringe services programs. The continued implementation of these programs places the clients at higher risks of overdosage of fentanyl compounds. This is brought by uncontrolled amounts of these drugs with fentanyl compounds in them as the constituent elements there. A national public health emergency involving the misuse of prescription opioid pain medications, as well as heroin and fentanyl, is currently underway in the United States (Park et.al, 2018). Because of this abuse, there has been a surge in insecure injection practices, putting those who inject drugs at danger of overdose deaths as well as the acquisition and transmission of blood-borne infectious illnesses. The program contributes to unsafe injections of fentanyl, with the overdosage leading to the opioid crisis.
Moreover, the over availability of fentanyl compounds in the market has steered opioid overuse. There has been increased supply both locally as well as in the national market of fentanyl and fentanyl-related compounds and drugs. By making these drugs readily available promotes addiction. Fentanyl compounds are highly potent and this drastically increases the risk of overdose. The fentanyl that is illegally used and is most typically related to recent overdoses is manufactured in laboratories (Park et.al, 2018). In addition to being marketed illegally as a powder, it is also dripped into blotter paper, placed in nasal sprays as well as eye droppers, and manufactured into tablets that appear like other treatment opioids. Several drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other substances, such as cocaine, heroin, as well as methamphetamine, to create a more potent combination.
Lastly, among the sources of the fentanyl compound is contamination. It is done either willingly to enhance the use of substance abuse as a result of the adverse effects these opioids have on one’s health. In the contextual regulatory framework as well as the opioid crisis, the use of drugs that are highly contaminated with fentanyl is a major source of the health crisis. The latter is being blended with other illegal narcotics to improving the effectiveness of the drug. It is being marketed as nasal sprays and powders, and it is progressively being pressed into tablets that are designed to seem like legitimate prescription opioid medications.
In part due to the lack of government oversight and quality control, these counterfeit tablets frequently contain fatal amounts of fentanyl and little or no of the medicine that was promised. High risk exists that illegal drugs have been purposefully laced with fentanyl, which is extremely dangerous (Park et.al, 2018).
Normal routes of exposure of Fentanyl compounds
There are several routes of exposure through which one can get in touch with the fentanyl compounds in this opioid crisis context. These ways include; absorption through inhalation, ingestion which is also referred to as oral exposure, or by skin contact. Further, fentanyl has a high possibility of being administered intramuscularly, as a skin patch, a practice commonly known as transdermal exposure, and lastly, it can be administered intravenously.
Inhalation of fentanyl causes rapid absorption. It often happens as one inhales the aerosols which are contaminated with fentanyl compounds as well as inhaling the powders as fentanyl; can be in form of a powder. This causes delayed reduces respiratory function as well as respiratory arrest. By inhaling the airborne powder is most likely associated with harmful effects such as lethargy, disorientation, drowsiness as well as nervous system depression (Moss et.al, 2018). Another route of exposure is ingestion of oral exposure. It occurs as a result of poisoning or contamination by fentanyl. It can be used to contaminate the water which is used to quench thirst or one can get exposed to fentanyl when it is used to contaminate foods. This method of exposure occurs by mouth through swallowing.
Moreover, it can be exposed via skin contact. This is the route of exposure whereby there is direct contact of fentanyl compounds with human skin. This normal route of exposure can be curbed by the use of personal protective equipment and clothing. Skin contact route of exposure cannot have harmful effects unless there is prolonged exposure of very large amounts of the compound (Moss et.al, 2018). However, skin contact exposure to fentanyl compounds can be very toxic. If any apparent contamination is removed as soon as possible, it is unlikely that brief skin contact with illicit fentanyl will result in harmful effects.
Apart from the major routes of exposure known, fentanyl can also be administered intravenously. This occurs when fentanyl compounds are injected directly into the veins. It occurs for concentrated medications that are either diluted or undiluted by using syringes via needleless ports on an intravenous line that is in existence (Moss et.al, 2018). On the other hand, intramuscular injection is a procedure that is used to administer a drug deep into the muscles of the patient. This allows for rapid absorption of the medicine into the bloodstream. This can lead to exposure to fentanyl compounds in the bloodstream and continuous exposure translates to an opioid crisis.
Also, there is a certain brand of fentanyl which is a patch prescribed by the health care providers to be applied to the skin, a practice known as transdermal administration. These patches may lead to life-threatening breathing complications. Given this substantial danger, fentanyl patches should only be applied to treat persons who are lenient (have become acclimated to the effects of the medicine) to opioid medications and have been taking this type of medication for at least one week before using them (Moss et.al, 2018).
References
Park, J. N., Weir, B. W., Allen, S. T., Chaulk, P., & Sherman, S. G. (2018). Fentanyl-contaminated drugs and non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, MD. Harm reduction journal, 15(1), 1-8. Web.
Moss, M. J., Warrick, B. J., Nelson, L. S., McKay, C. A., Dubé, P. A., Gosselin, S.,… & Stolbach, A. I. (2018). ACMT and AACT position statement: preventing occupational fentanyl and fentanyl analog exposure to emergency responders. Clinical Toxicology, 56(4), 297-300. Web.