The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has uncovered plans by some drug cartels to introduce fentanyl into the Nigerian market.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid anaesthesia that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, on Tuesday said the illicit drug was also 100 times stronger than tramadol.
He said the drug, with misleading labels, can come in form of candies and eye drops.
We are not unaware of desperate efforts by some drug cartels to introduce to the Nigerian market, fentanyl, which according to the CDC, is 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin,” he said in a statement.
“This, they plan to do either in liquid or powder form and/or with misleading labels to target our youth population.
“This they may also mix with other prescription drugs. The illegally manufactured fentanyl in its liquid form can come in nasal sprays, eye drops, or small candies.
“As a result, parents and other stakeholders are advised to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting to experiment with this illicit substance.
“Symptoms for fentanyl exposure and/or overdose include pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or losing consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin.”
The NDLEA spokesman further attributed the drug to more than 70% of opioid overdose deaths in the United States, and a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses.
With a current drug abuse prevalence of 14.4%, Babafemi said steps would be taken to ensure that the lethal drug does not circulate in Nigeria.
Babafemi assured Nigerians that necessary measures had been deployed to monitor the cartels involved in this latest threat to public health with a view to frustrating their criminal plot.
He added that those found wanting would be made to face the wrath of the law.
What You Must Know About Fentanyl
Fentanyl, also spelled fentanil, is a potent synthetic opioid used as a pain medication.
Together with other drugs, fentanyl is used for anesthesia. It is also used illicitly as a recreational drug, sometimes mixed with heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines or methamphetamine.
Its potentially deadly overdose effects can be neutralized by naloxone.
Fentanyl is commonly used to create counterfeit pills disguised as OxyContin, Xanax, Adderall, among others.
It has a rapid onset and its effects generally last under two hours. Medically, it is used by injection, nasal spray, or skin patch, or absorbed through the cheek as a lozenge or tablet.
Common adverse effects of fentanyl include nausea, vomiting, constipation, itching, sedation, confusion, and injuries related to poor coordination.
Serious adverse effects may include respiratory depression, hallucinations, serotonin syndrome, low blood pressure, or development of an opioid use disorder.
Fentanyl works by activating μ-opioid receptors.
It is around 100 times stronger than morphine and about 50 times stronger than heroin. Fentanyl was first made by Paul Janssen in 1960 and approved for medical use in the United States in 1968.
In 2015, 1,600 kilograms (3,500 pounds) were used in healthcare globally.
As of 2017, fentanyl was the most widely used synthetic opioid in medicine; in 2019, it was the 278th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than one million prescriptions. It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.
In 2021, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues accounted for most drug overdose deaths in the United States with 71,238 deaths.
Compared with heroin, it is more potent, has higher profit margins, and, because it is compact, has simpler logistics. It can be cut into, or even replace entirely, the supply of heroin and other opiates.
The flow of fentanyl mainly originates in Chinese factories which produce fentanyl or fentanyl precursors; it is then trafficked to other countries for illicit production and sale. In the United States, finished fentanyl arrives primarily from Mexico smuggled by cartels.