What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Prescription fentanyl is safe when taken as prescribed by a doctor to treat severe pain. However, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is also distributed through illegal drug markets. Recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. and Texas are linked to illegally made fentanyl.

Illegally manufactured fentanyl is often added to other substances like counterfeit pills, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. As a result, many people may not know they're ingesting fentanyl, leading to accidental poisoning.

Even in small doses, fentanyl exposure can cause a life-threatening overdose. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), 883 people in Texas died from fentanyl-related overdoses in 2020. Provisional data shows that number climbed to 1,672 deaths in 2021 — an 89% increase. Read more from DSHS about fentanyl-related deaths (PDF).