As of March 27, 2025, fentanyl, a powerful opioid, remains the core focus of global drug abuse. As a "double-edged sword" in the medical field, fentanyl can relieve acute pain, but also cause a public health crisis due to the risk of abuse.
Fentanyl: Medical Miracle and Abuse Crisis
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid anesthetic with an analgesic effect 50-100 times that of morphine and 50 times that of heroin. After being developed by Belgian doctor Paul Janssen in 1960, it quickly became the drug of choice for surgical anesthesia, postoperative analgesia and pain management in the late stage of cancer. Its rapid onset (onset of action within 1 minute after intravenous injection) and short duration of action (30-60 minutes) make it irreplaceable in medical scenarios.
However, the risk of fentanyl abuse stems from its high lipid solubility and potent properties. Fentanyl derivatives from illegal channels (such as carfentanil) are 5,000 times more toxic than