By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Flickr and Freepik
Once hailed as a powerful painkiller, fentanyl has now become one of the deadliest drugs on our streets. Initially developed for medical use, this synthetic opioid, which is much more potent than morphine, has become a powerful drug in the hands of illegal manufacturers and dealers. This is fuelling a crisis of drug overdose cases, broken families and devastated communities. What began in hospital settings has spiralled into a widespread public health emergency, leaving behind a trail of grief and raising urgent questions about how to stop the spread of this silent killer.
In the quiet halls of hospitals and the high-stakes intensity of operating theatres, fentanyl has long been a trusted ally. Described by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a “potent synthetic opioid,” fentanyl is officially approved by the American Food and Drug Administration for use as both a pain reliever and anaesthetic (DEA, 2024). But behind its clinical use lies a story of complexity, one that intersects medicine, addiction and public health.
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: June 2025. This article is available for purchase.]