10 Facts About Synthetic Opioids (Fentanyl)

See Our Synthetic Opioids Fact Sheet(PDF)

What are synthetic opioids like fentanyl?
Are synthetic opioids legal?
How risky are fentanyl and other synthetic opioids?
How many people are fatally overdosing due to fentanyl? Why?
How do fentanyl and other synthetic opioids get into the heroin supply?
What are the effects of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids?
Are fentanyl and other synthetic opioids more addictive than heroin?
How common are fentanyl and other synthetic opioids?
How similar is fentanyl to prescription painkillers or heroin?
How can we reduce the harms associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids?

Get Other Drug Facts

What do you think?

People deserve accurate, non-judgmental information about synthetic opioids and other drugs

In order to stay safe, we need to understand both the effects of drugs and the policies that surround them.

Sign if you Agree

 

If you sign and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.

Synthetic Opioids: Media Tips

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) advocates for sharing information about synthetic opioids grounded in research and science. Unfortunately, reporting about these substances can contain inaccuracies and exaggerations that often leads to fear and bad policy.
 
This tip sheet for media provides brief answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions about synthetic opioids and example phrasing that is accurate and not sensationalized.
 

Share: