Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the US, and even small doses can be deadly. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illegally made fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. Illegally made fentanyl is found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and in counterfeit pills. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl.

Fentanyl poisoning occurs when a person takes fentanyl in a dose that is too high for their body to handle, leading to serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. An overdose can occur when people taking drugs don’t realize they might contain fentanyl as a cheap but dangerous additive. Signs of an overdose include small, constricted “pinpoint pupils,” face is extremely pale and/or feels cold or clammy to the touch, body goes limp, fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color, vomiting or making gurgling noises. An overdose can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, and even death.

Accidental exposure to fentanyl patches can also cause poisoning, especially in children. Young children, in particular, have died or become seriously ill after being exposed to a skin patch containing fentanyl. Children can overdose on new and used fentanyl patches by putting them in their mouth or sticking the patches on their skin. This can cause death by slowing the child’s breathing and decreasing the levels of oxygen in their blood. Early signs of fentanyl exposure might be hard to notice in young children, and drowsiness has been among the reported symptoms. Health care professionals and patients should report cases of accidental exposure of fentanyl patches or other medications to the FDA[[6]](https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/accidental-exposures-fentanyl-patches-continue-be-dea...