Since 2013, the opioid epidemic in the United States has abruptly increased, particularly since the introduction of synthetic opioids like Fentanyl.
This infographic illustrates a handful of the major issues of this national catastrophe.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid meant to be prescribed only for stage four cancer patients.
The potency of fentanyl is up to 50 times that of heroin and 100 times that of morphine.
The amount of Fentanyl shown in the picture is enough to kill an average-sized male.
Opioid overdose death rates have abruptly peaked since 2013 due to Fentanyl.
The infographic shows deaths per 100000 from 1999 to 2018.
Naloxone, the antidote, counters the effects of opioid overdose.
Naloxone prescriptions rates have risen suddenly since 2012. This has caused the first downfall of death rates in 2018, in the history of opioid overdose death rates.
Fentanyl manufacturers
Companies that produce fentanyl contributed to the issue by exaggerating the advantages of this risky drug. They produced this medicine in intriguing forms, such as lollipops, to entice patients to try it.
Some of the companies that manufactured Fentanyl now manufacture the antidote, Naloxone.
They marketed the issue, and now they're selling the remedy.
*marked in red are companies that manufacture Fentanyl and Naloxone.
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