![]() The most potent opioid drugs, however, are entirely synthetic chemicals that look nothing like those produced by nature, like fentanyl.įentanyl acts on opioid receptors, which are found throughout the body, with about 50-100 times the potency of morphine. They also include semi-synthetic drugs that are also derived from poppy but then chemically manipulated, such as heroin. Opioids include naturally occurring drugs that are extracted from the opium poppy plant, like morphine. They differ in form and potency, but they all interact with opioid receptors in the body, producing painkilling and euphoric effects. When we talk about opioids, we are referring to a class of chemicals. Damir Sagolj/Reuters What are synthetic opioids? Opioids are a class of chemical – some are derived from poppy, others are synthetic. Fentanyl has also been found in counterfeit Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug. For instance, our work at the Clinical Toxicology and Environmental Biomonitoring Laboratory at UCSF has identified counterfeit Norco containing fentanyl and a new synthetic opioid that is chemically unrelated to anything used in medicine. This means that users may not be aware they are taking fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. These illicitly made substances are generally formulated to look like others drugs – heroin or oxycodone tablets. While fentanyl made by pharmaceutical companies is sometimes diverted to the black market, since 2013 the distribution of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has risen to unprecedented levels. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl were also found in Prince’s home. Fentanyl is an opioid far more powerful than hydrocodone. They were counterfeits containing fentanyl that were purchased on the street. ![]() Fifteen died.īut, as we discovered, these pills were not pharmaceutical hydrocodone at all. ![]() In March and April, 56 people in the Sacramento area were hospitalized after taking Norco brand hydrocodone pills. ![]()
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