fentanyl
/ˈfɛntənɪl/
Definition
A powerful synthetic opioid drug, primarily used medically for pain management, which is currently a subject of significant public policy and border security debate.
Etymology
The name is a portmanteau derived from its chemical name, phenyl-fentanyl. It was developed in the 1960s in Belgium as part of a series of synthetic opioids created to improve upon the potency and characteristics of existing painkillers.
In the news
The word appears in a news headline regarding the U.S. border to highlight the ongoing debate over the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs into the country. It underscores the geopolitical and public health tensions surrounding substance distribution and border regulation.
The Center for Health and Human Rights, the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, the Georgetown University Americas Institute, and the Georgetown University Science, Technology, and International Affairs Program in Conversation with PAHO Dire
Read the full article ↗Georgetown University