Essay Sample on Moral Status of Fentanyl

Introduction

Fentanyl is among the most lethal drugs on the market and has been rising in popularity in the past few years (Tamburro, Al-Hadidi, & Dragovic, 2016). It is believed that this drug is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine (O'Donnell, Halpin, Mattson, Goldberger, & Gladden, 2017). Unfortunately, besides the intended medical purposes, Fentanyl has increasingly been abused. As a result, the ethics and moral model of the society have been substantially interfered with. Initially, Fentanyl was prescribed during the treatment of patients with severe pain, especially after surgery or to ease the death process. The drug is also usually prescribed to a patient with chronic pain. The brand names for Fentanyl are Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze and other. On the street, it is referred to as China Girl, Apache, China White, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfella, Jackpot, Tango, Cash and others (Schumann, Erickson, Thompson, Zautcke, & Denton, 2008). Fentanyl poses adverse risks to the users and can as well cause sudden deaths. With the growing abuse of this opioid, the moral and ethical responsibilities of the key stakeholders such as clinical chemists, pharmacists, and physicians have been exposed to critical debates (Tamburro et al., 2016).

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Many countries have launched a war against the Fentanyl abuse, and have even extended their surveillance to persons involved in the prescription of the drug. There is a public health crisis of addiction to Fentanyl that has already taken the lives of many people. Medical professionals have been put in the center of Fentanyl abuse since many deaths result from the misuse of prescription-only drugs. The privilege and power to describe Fentanyl has been rendered to a few; the medical professionals. Due to many deaths that are witnessed today from the prescriptions, the public has a distrust on the medical profession, and thus efforts have been bestowed to even discourage physicians from prescribing the opioids. Without merely basing excuse on the medical professional, more broadly, it is critical to consider the moral and ethical responsibilities of health care providers in connection with the Fentanyl abuse. Just like Heroine, there are several illicit sources of Fentanyl that has claimed many lives.

As a result of its potency, whether prescribed or not, any user of Fentanyl would probably develop an addiction. The significantly affected group is the youths who abuse other drugs such as heroin. Since Fentanyl has many similar effects as heroin, dealers mix it with heroin and sell the mixture to unsuspecting customers. Another affected group is the people who buy painkillers in the streets. Since Fentanyl is used to treat even severe pain, the dealers often mix it with other pain killers and some people would buy such substances unknowingly. Therefore, even the clinics and first responders find it hectic to treat a situation they aren't aware of is present. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting patients are exposed to great dangers of Fentanyl than even those people who abuse them knowingly, since a small amount of the drug is even more dangerous (Tamburo et al., 2016). This is why many people have questioned the moral and ethical responsibility of health care providers in regards to Fentanyl usage.

Besides Fentanyl being a threat to our health, I consider this drug as a threat to the moral and ethical status of our societies. Just like other abused drugs, the use of Fentanyl can emerge criminal acts in society. The abuse will also paint a wrong picture on the moral status of the individual users; addiction can result in financial problems that would arise in social issues such as family break-ups among others. I now deem it crucial for governments, medical professions, patients and the general public to change their attitude towards the use of Fentanyl. This can be achieved by proper education to the public.

Conclusion

Now, as members of the public bestow excuses on the health care providers who are concerned with the prescription of the Fentanyl, studies have revealed that today, even the certified medical practitioners are relenting as far as opioids prescriptions are concerned. There are many cases where medical practitioners facilitate the abuse of Fentanyl by illegally availing the drugs to abusers. In a broad perception, members of the public, law enforcers and errant medical professionals are somehow to blame. Health care service providers should be in the front line to enhance the moral and ethical standards of the society by launching campaigns against drug abuse. Now, to thoroughly address the issue of Fentanyl abuse, vigilance from multiple fields such as law enforcement, government agencies, clinical chemists, pharmacists, and physicians, etc. need to join efforts to combat the abuse of Fentanyl (Linder, 2016).

References

Linder, S. H., Huang, L. C., & Hodge, K. (2016). Fentanyl Presents Need for New Strategies for Combatting Opioid Abuse. Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

O'Donnell, J. K., Halpin, J., Mattson, C. L., Goldberger, B. A., & Gladden, R. M. (2017). Deaths involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and U-47700-10 states, July-December 2016. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 66(43), 1197.

Schumann, H., Erickson, T., Thompson, T. M., Zautcke, J. L., & Denton, J. S. (2008). Fentanyl epidemic in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding Cook County. Clinical Toxicology, 46(6), 501-506.

Seth, P., Rudd, R. A., Noonan, R. K., & Haegerich, T. M. (2018). Quantifying the epidemic of prescription opioid overdose deaths.

Tamburro, L. P., Al-Hadidi, J. H., & Dragovic, L. J. (2016). Resurgence of fentanyl as a drug of abuse. Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine, 2(2), 111.