In 2016 in the USA, 19 547 fatal overdoses (about a third of all fatal overdoses) were attributed to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyls.¹ Fentanyl, almost always sold as or mixed with illicitly sourced opioids, sharply increases risk of overdose. Its potency (roughly 50 times that of heroin) makes accurate dosing and titration difficult. The duration of desired effects is shorter than that of other abused opioids, necessitating more frequent dosing. Each of these factors increases risk of overdose and the social damage caused by non-prescription opioid use.

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面对芬太尼：美国是否应考虑试用处方海洛因？

2016年，在美国，有19547例致命过量（约占所有致命剂量的三分之一）归因于合成阿片类药物，主要是芬太尼。¹芬太尼几乎总是作为非法来源的阿片类药物出售或与之混合出售，这大大增加了过量用药的风险。它的效力（约为海洛因的50倍）使精确的剂量和滴定变得困难。所需效果的持续时间比其他滥用阿片类药物的持续时间短，因此需要更频繁地给药。这些因素中的每一个都会增加非处方阿片类药物使用引起的用药过量和社会损害的风险。