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Fentanyl and Narcan 101
Fentanyl's Alter Egos
The nefarious forms of the illicit drug.
Image Credits: Marco Verch / Wikimedia CC and Nate Bullis
Drug Vernacular
A glossary of common drug use and medication terms.
Buprenorphine: A medication to help treat opioid use disorder; can be prescribed and taken at home.
Fentanyl: A powerful, highly addictive opioid that’s 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Methadone: A medication to help treat opioid use disorder; administered daily under observation at treatment programs.
Naltrexone: A medication to help treat opioid use disorder; usually taken as a monthly injection.
Narcan: Brand name for naloxone, a medicine that can reverse an overdose.
Opioids: A class of drugs, such as heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl, that works in the brain to produce pain relief, relaxation, or a euphoric high.
Opioid use disorder: A chronic medical condition characterized by a physical and psychological reliance on opioids.
Stimulants: A class of drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and caffeine, that increases activity in the brain to produce feelings of alertness and energy.
Suboxone: A brand name of a medication, a mix of buprenorphine and naloxone, used to treat opioid use disorder.
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Image: Nate Bullis
More About Narcan
- Any Washington resident can request naloxone, commonly known by its brand name Narcan, at a pharmacy sans physician prescription, thanks to a 2019 standing statewide order. All first responders also carry the drug.
- Now-defunct Evzio’s EpiPen-style naloxone auto-injector made headlines in 2017 for charging over $4,000 per prescription. Most insurance policies cover Narcan, with the out-of-pocket cost averaging under $150 for a two-dose package.
- Washington’s Good Samaritan Law protects against minor drug possession charges when seeking medical help to save a life, even if illicit drugs are at the scene. When in doubt, administer Narcan.