WHAT IS FENTANYL?

Fentanyl is an opioid drug. Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription medicines such as morphine and illegal drugs like heroin.

Fentanyl is synthetic, which means it is made entirely in laboratories and has no natural ingredients. It was developed as a prescription medicine for treating severe pain, such as pain after surgery. When used as prescribed, it is also very effective in treating cancer pain or other types of severe chronic pain that don't respond to other pain medicines. Read more about opioids on the NIDA website.

Fentanyl is also made and used illegally, because it is very powerful and relatively easy to produce. Illegally made fentanyl is now a main driver of the overdose and addiction crisis in the United States.

FENTANYL FACTS