Fentanyl

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fentanyl

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary medical use?Management of severe pain and as a sedative
2. What is the year of first synthesis?1960
3. What is fentanyl and why is it used in medicine?Fentanyl is a very strong pain medicine that helps people with severe pain, like cancer patients or those recovering from big surgeries. It also keeps patients calm and comfortable during certain medical procedures.
4. How strong is fentanyl compared to other pain medicines?Fentanyl is 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Because of this, only tiny amounts are needed to relieve pain.

Synthetic Opioid: A laboratory-created drug that mimics the effects of natural opioids, used for pain relief.
Analgesic: A substance used to relieve pain.
μ-opioid Receptors: Specific binding sites in the nervous system that fentanyl interacts with to reduce pain perception.
Respiratory Depression: A dangerous slowing or stopping of breathing caused by opioid drugs.