Researchers in Oregon have identified a brain state that is caused by breathing fentanyl for the first time. A case study released in the British Medical Journal goes into more detail.
The man in his 40s who had brain inflammation after taking the strong
painkiller is at the center of this new finding.
Inhaling heroin has been linked to similar effects in the past, but this is a
new and scary part of fentanyl's already deadly story.
Dr. Chris Eden, a student at the OHSU School of Medicine and member of the
treatment team, told KOIN News, "This is a case of a middle-class man in
his late 40s who used fentanyl for the first time. He has kids." He also
talked about the shame surrounding drug use. It shows that fentanyl can have an
effect on everyone in our society. The patient has since gone back to his or
her home in Seattle and started working again, but the long-term effects of the
condition are still very worrying.
Eden stressed that other cases of the syndrome might not have been noticed
because hospitals don't usually test for fentanyl as part of regular drug
screenings, even though the drug causes a lot of damage and is very
strong—fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. Doctors are now telling
people about the risks of fentanyl and saying that it should be a normal part
of hospital checks. This case should serve as a stark reminder of how dangerous
this synthetic drug is.
