Recently, the US President Donald Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports as fentanyl is being sent from China to the US via Mexico and Canada.
About Fentanyl:
It is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (for pain relief) and anesthetic (for surgery).
It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.
Its overdoses can cause stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis (blue skin), coma and respiratory failure leading to death.
What are Opioids?
These are a class of drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the opium poppy plant.
Impacts on human body:
They activate an area of nerve cells in the brain and body called opioid receptors that block pain signals between the brain and the body.
They produce a variety of effects, including pain relief and euphoria and are highly addictive.
Some common opioids include oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin and fentanyl.
An opioid overdose can be identified by a combination of three signs and symptoms: pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness and difficulties with breathing.
Their overuse can lead to death due to the effects of opioids on the part of the brain which regulates breathing.
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