The powerful narcotic fentanyl has had a devastating impact in the US, contributing to record overdose numbers. Just last week the first fentanyl-related deaths in Czechia were reported in the media. So should the authorities be worried about a similar crisis in this country? I spoke to Viktor Mravčík, an expert on drug addiction.
“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It’s part of the family of opiates, which are derivatives from natural opium. Like morphine, for example, or codeine and heroin.
“Fentanyl is used in medicine as a pharmaceutical drug, but in recent years it’s also misused, so it’s used a similar context as heroin or other illicit opioids.”
How has it contributed so much to these record drug deaths in the US?
“Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have contributed to the so-called third wave of the opioid epidemic in the US.
“And how? There is simply a supply of illicit synthetic opioids including fentanyl and its derivatives on the US and North American illicit market and there is demand for opioids. “This is part of the context of this overdose crisis.”
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Author: Ian Willoughby