However, fentanyl exhibits vastly different properties and pharmacokinetics. A dose of only 100 micrograms can produce equivalent analgesia to approximately 10 mg of morphine. This robust pharmacologic agent is typically 50 to 100 times more potent. CDCHAN-00438, 2020 Dec 14.Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, which, similar to morphine, produces analgesia but to a greater extent. CDC Health Alert Network Advisory: Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses Across the United States Driven by Synthetic Opioids Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 1999–2020. Hedegaard H, Miniño AM, Spencer MR, Warner M.Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Investigative Reporting, January 2015.Journal Of Medical Toxicology: Official Journal of the American College Of Medical Toxicology. Fentanyl-associated fatalities among illicit drug users in Wayne County, Michigan (July 2005-May 2006). Tracking Fentanyl and Fentanyl-Related Substances Reported in NFLIS-Drug by State, 2016–2017.DEA Issues Nationwide Alert on Fentanyl as Threat to Health and Public Safety.National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws: Naloxone.NCHS Data Brief: Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2020.CDC Health Advisory Network Update: Increases in Fentanyl Drug Confiscations and Fentanyl-related Overdose Fatalities.CDC Health Advisory Network Update: Influx of Fentanyl-laced Counterfeit Pills and Toxic Fentanyl-related Compounds Further Increases Risk of Fentanyl-related Overdose and Fatalities.CDC Health Advisory Network Update: Rising Numbers of Deaths Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs, Including Carfentanil, and Increased Usage and Mixing with Non-opioids.Fentanyl: Preventing Occupational Exposure to Emergency Responders.CDC MMWR: Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths – United States, 2017-2018.Improve detection of overdose outbreaks to facilitate more effective response.Intervene early with individuals at highest risk for overdose.Expand awareness about and access to and availability of treatment for substance use disorders.Expand distribution and use of naloxone and overdose prevention education.CDC issued a Health Alert Network Advisory to medical and public health professionals, first responders, harm reduction organizations, and other community partners recommending the following actions as appropriate based on local needs and characteristics: The increase in overdose deaths highlights the need to ensure people most at risk of overdose can access care, as well as the need to expand prevention and response activities. More than 56,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids in 2020. The latest provisional drug overdose death counts through June 2021 suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids in 2020 was more than 18 times the number in 2013. Rates of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, increased over 56% from 2019 to 2020.