Fentanyl: 7 things to know about the synthetic opioid that caused the death of Leandro De Niro, Robert’s grandson

Nearly 70,000 people in the United States died from a Fentanyl-related drug overdose in 2021, about two-thirds of all deaths that year from overdoses. An increase nearly quadrupled in five years, according to a recent report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the situation has not improved at all over time. Deaths caused by Fentanyl dealing and abuse continue to rise in the United States today. And they make the news.

The last, in order of time, is that of Leandro DeNiro Rodrigueznephew of the Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNirowho died at the age of 19 after ingesting pills Fentanylas his mother Drena De Niro revealed on social mediaand reports cnn.

A similar fate had also befallen the rapper last year Coolio, found dead on September 28 in the bathroom of a friend’s home in Los Angeles at the age of 59. Even then, the death was attributed to an overdose of Fentanyl mixed with other drugs, which would have caused cardiac arrest.

The opioid has long been at the center of controversy in the US after the condemnation of the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson for the massacre caused by drug addiction, and has also caused some victims in Italy.

Fentanyl, 7 things to know

1. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drugs Administration «for a analgesic and anesthetic use». First developed in 1959, it was introduced in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic. According to the DEA, theUS federal drug agencyas an analgesic is about 100 times more potent than morphine And 50 times more than heroin.
2. When US doctors began prescribing strong opioid painkillers (including Fentanyl) to soothe injuries, chronic or post-operative pain, it has been realized that these drugs, unlike what is advertised by pharmaceutical companies, can cause a strong addiction. When the prescription expired, at least 6% of patients could no longer do without it and turned to the black market.
3. Similar to other opioids, the effects that Fentanyl produces are: relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, pupillary constriction, and respiratory depression.
4. Between more serious consequences related to the abuse of this substancewe consider the effects ofabstinence (abdominal and bone pain, anxiety and sweating), anemia, respiratory depression and peripheral edemabut also cardiac arrest or anaphylactic shock which can lead to one unexpected death.
5. A overdose it can cause stupor, pupil size changes, cold clammy skin, cyanosis, coma, and respiratory failure leading to death.
   The presence of a triad of symptoms such as coma, pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression are strongly indicative of a opiate poisoning. Last but not least, a dose of is enough 2 milligrams to turn out lethal.
6. Officially used both medically and veterinary, Fentanyl is available in transdermal patches and can be prescribed to adults and adolescents over 16 years of age for treatment of chronic cancer pain he was born in wayward pain requiring opioid analgesia.
7. In Italy, the decree of 30 June 2020has included Fentanyl and its derivatives in table I of narcotic and psychotropic substances, with the aim of countering the illicit production and diffusion of fentanyls – a family of synthetic opioids more powerful than fentanyl itself – placing them under control, since they are used improper or illegal use are very dangerous and small quantities can cause life-threatening poisoning.