Why is Fentanyl such an issue in the US?

[AnnaQuayInTheUk]

I've just been reading something on Threads about someone dying from a Fentanyl OD. I also read Demon Copperhead recently (brilliant novel) which is about the Fentanyl crisis.

Why is this such an issue in the US but not (as far as I know) in Europe? Use of other drugs such as heroin seem to be roughly the same across the US and other parts of the world. So why is Fentanyl different?

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a documentary about the issue? I'm interested in learning more.

They’re a lot more cautious here definitely. I had to beg for morphine and gynae ended up ringing my GP and they had a whole discussion
Just had a big gynae surgery and they came round with painkillers after and it was paracetamol offered
I have been sore but would rather feel where the pain is a little otherwise I would start hoovering and doing too much!

Theyre not. They're analgesics (pain killers), none will put you to sleep

Too much of anything will put you to sleep.

Forever.

Most of the fentanyl zombies in the USA are not on it as a result of having being prescribed by a doctor. It's taken over from heroin as the street drug. It's synthetic, it's easy to produce, easy to move around and cheap.

Yes same, after my C-section I was given dihydrocodeine and after 2 days of it at home I felt so good I was thinking about moving the furniture around! Midwife advised to go back to paracetamol and ibuprofen after which I felt more discomfort, but the pain was an obvious sign to keep resting and not try too much too quickly.

Well that's still analgesia induced respiratory depression/apnoea, not anaesthesia

It's not that they feel the need for it, they have injuries and have to get back to work. The States is not a place to get sick/injuries even with insurance.

They are pain killers, but very strong ones. They make you not feel any kind of pain, including emotional - so are a bit like anaesthetics/ sedatives in this effect. They do make you sleepy though, with the most kind of lovely sleep you can imagine.

As shit as it was getting given paracetamol after c sections, I’m glad the uk doesn’t go straight to the heavy options. But then I wish cancer patients etc were more heavily medicated

Yes, soooo relaxed.

Some people absolutely do have addictive personalities i have one its actually one of the symptoms of eupd and one of the reasons I got diagnosed

A very interesting thread and thank you @Destiny123 and your colleagues for all you do and your helpful advice.

Morphine makes me paranoid and jumpy as a side effect and I know this because of a daily procedure I had to have on the removal of Yates' drains following the removal of a large hematoma ( original surgical complication). I opted in the end to be given a local anesthetic but had to keep very still. Managed it just about but it was the last of the remaining drain.

Have just researched Lidocaine and it's widely used in haemorroid treatment, which I suffer from. Off to Boots tomorrow to get it.

Anyway it's shocking the state of addiction from Fentanyl if misused. Laudanum used to be the painkiller of choice for many centuries. I think it was stopped not because of its addiction propensity, but because it was cheap.

Certainly in the USA there's no cheap painkillers to be bought in supermarkets. It's a money making, profit machine.

I've been an anaesthetist for 8 years I know what they are. They don't numb emotions at therapeutic medical doses

But to a certain extent the effect is the same ... what is death but eternal anaesthesia ? 🤔

Just tell them that you get side effects from morphine, they can swap you to oxycodone instead which has a different side effect profile (was marketed as less nausea inducing). Drs are happy to switch (I ended up asking on my mums behalf as it makes her hallucinate spiders all over her body and itchy as anything so hated taking it but was in severe pain)

Things like gas and air or penthrox (its a cartridge of gas anaesthesia that you self adminster like gas and air) are good for short procedures painful like drain removal but it's often unfortunately often limited to a&e for access

Yeah you can buy lidocaine creams (look for emla or ametop is the 2 brand names) people use it for tattoos

I won't quote that in an exam answer 😂

Proof there is truth and correctness and they aren't the same 😀

Why are you saying there are no cheap supermarket pain killers in the USA? I've just bought loads.