Lunch-and-Learn Speakers Address Risks of Dangerous Drug Fentanyl and What to Look Out For

Although two of the speakers in a May 14 lunch-and-learn about fentanyl awareness were from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, the topic applies to anyone, not just Exchange associates in Dallas-Fort Worth.

“This particular drug has us all worried, as we should be,” said Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown. “There are a number of reasons we should be quite concerned about this particular drug. It’s a synthetic opioid that is designed for pain. The problem is that this drug is extremely potent. They tell us that it’s 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

“When we think in terms of morphine, we think about that being the ‘cancer drug’,” she continued. “So we recognize that must be a really strong drug. So think about it—if we are talking about fentanyl being 100 times stronger than morphine, there is reason for concern.”

Brown emphasized that there are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical, which requires a prescription and is taken under a doctor’s care, and illicit, which is acquired illegally. But a major concern is people taking fentanyl without actually knowing they’re taking it.

“Let’s say there’s a young lady in school and she’s experiencing stomach cramps,” Brown said. “And her friend says to her, ‘I have these pills that my brother gave to me and they’re pain pills—they’re just like aspirin or Midol.’ So the victim takes one, and that’s another way fentanyl can be acquired in an illicit fashion. It’s either taken for pain or it’s taken to get high.”

Another concern is that fentanyl can be added to other types of drugs without the user being aware.

“Even drugs that are common, like marijuana and K2, fentanyl can be added to them without knowledge,” Brown said. “It’s tasteless and odorless, so that in and of itself creates a problem, because you can’t detect whether it’s been added. … and it only takes a small amount to be fatal.”

To illustrate how small, Brown said that something the size of a packet of sweetener could contain many fatal doses of fentanyl. She added that the drug goes by many street names and advised parents to be alert to their children’s conversations.

“It’s important for parents to do a little ear hustling,” she said. “You’ve got to pay attention to what your kids are saying, what they’re talking about when they’re on the phone. Some of the street names include ‘Beans,’ ‘Shady 80s,’ ‘Fake Oxy,’ ‘Apache,’ ‘Goodbar,’ ‘China Girl,’ ‘Dance Fever’ and so many more. These names are important to know and for parents to understand. When your children are having discussions and they’re talking about ‘Shady 80s’ and ‘Goodbar’ and ‘China girl,’ you might need to ask some questions and get a little more insight into what it is specifically that they are talking about.”

Fentanyl’s effects and symptoms of use and possible overdoes include but aren’t limited to:

• Sedation
• A feeling of euphoria
• Confusion
• Back pain
• Constricted pupils
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation and stomach pain
• Insomnia
• Cold, clammy and/or discolored skin, especially lips and fingernails
• Gurgling or choking sounds
• Limp body
• Respiratory depression, or when the ability to breathe starts to decline

Mere contact with fentanyl can be a hazard, Brown said, which is a concern to law enforcement officers.

“We as first responders have to be aware of fentanyl’s tendency to be fatal,” Brown said. “In our everyday operations, first responders have to wear protective ger so that in case we are exposed to fentanyl, we are not subjected to an accidental overdose.

“We’ve heard stories and know of specific instances where first responders have come in contact,” she continued. “Maybe they were searching a car, or maybe they were searching an individual and they weren’t wearing gloves. And their skin came into contact with fentanyl, and fortunately, someone looked over and noticed that they seemed to be having difficulty breathing and thought, ‘this could be fentanyl.’”

An antidote is available: Naloxone, a nasal spray available in brands such as Narcan and Evzio.

“It reverses the symptoms, but it may not work every time,” Brown said. “And even if it works, it could just be temporary. But it many cases, it is very effective.”

Gary McDaniel, Chief Deput, Dallas Sheriff’s Department Office of General Services, was also one of the guest speakers.

“People say, ‘What can we do other than educating ourselves about fentanyl?’ That’s probably the most important part,” McDaniel said. “Communications and education are important because so many kids are being poisoned because of a one-time event where they thought they were taking a different kind of pill. All too often, as parents, we’re uncomfortable talking about different things with our children. We’ve got to all get comfortable with that conversation.

“As far as reporting to law enforcement,” he added, “it’s just like anything. If you feel like something is odd or unusual that leads you to believe it’s illegal activity—if you see something, say something.”

A third guest speaker was Dr. Sonya Curtis, quality manager for the Veterans Administration Central Office, who added some perspective about the antidote: “Narcan is helpful, depending on how much medication is in the system,” she said. “But it also depends on how [the patient] can excrete that medication from the body. If they’re having problems excreting medications, taking fentanyl will definitely be toxic and built up in the body. So that’s a reason that sometimes when you do give Narcan, the person doesn’t react.”

Curtis spoke about other side effects of fentanyl.

“Due to the chemical makeup, a fentanyl overdose can lead to seizures, which require immediate medical attention,” Curtis said. “If the victim doesn’t get the attention that is needed, seizures can lead to death.”

The drug also attacks the central nervous system, affecting a victim’s ability to communicate. It also affects heart rate, which can lead to respiratory depression. “It can cause you to breathe dangerously slow or shallow, or stop breathing altogether,” Curtis said. “So that means you don’t get the significant amount of oxygen that is needed for the organs in your body.”

Curtis pointed out that the Texas Health and Human Service website features a campaign called #onepillkills that has information about fentanyl, including videos about people who have been affected by fentanyl. Curtis recommended several websites, including Texas Targeted Opioid Response, the National Institute of Drug Abuse’s , the Centers for Disease Control’s Fentanyl Facts and more.

“How can you act? You can act by making sure that you look at these resources,” Curtis said. “Educate yourselves. Take time … to ensure that you’re educated and we can continue to spread the knowledge and education and awareness.”

The lunch and learn was co-presented by the Exchange Office of the Inspector General and Human Resources.

If you missed the lunch-and-learn, you can view a recording of it here.