fentanyl: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026

News •

A powerful veterinary sedative is being added to street fentanyl — and ERs are struggling to cope • Nov. 7, 2026, 4:00 AM ET (CBC)

Canadian military officer acquitted of fentanyl, cocaine trafficking • Nov. 6, 2026, 2:23 PM ET (CTV News)

Three men accused of running Hartford-based drug trafficking ring distributing cocaine and fentanyl • Nov. 4, 2026, 5:49 AM ET (Hartford Courant)

'Serious' opioid addiction cited after man accused of murder found with fentanyl in jail • Nov. 3, 2026, 6:00 AM ET (CBC)

Two charged for fentanyl trafficking, weapons offences in East Leicester, N.S.: RCMP • Nov. 2, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (CTV News)

Facts

Also Known As	n-(1-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)propionanilide

Photos and Videos

Fentanyl and drug addiction

World map showing major illicit fentanyl trafficking routes, with arrows indicating flows from China and India in Asia to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in North America. The map highlights Asia as the primary source region and the U.S. as the main destination.

The video thumbnail image shows the packaging of Narcan nasal spray.

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Topics

analgesic narcotic opioid medical cannabis Buprenorphine nitazene suzetrigine acetaminophen oxycodone aspirin methadone meperidine NSAID