Dir. of Poison Center talks dangers of fentanyl
On May 31, the Prevention and Recovery Alliance Clark County (PRACC), a collaborative initiative led by SWACH, welcomed Dr. Scott Phillips, Medical Director of the Washington Poison Center, to their monthly meeting. Dr. Phillips shared critical insights and education related to the growing threat of fentanyl and the risks of exposure within the community.
Given the recent rise in fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths, Dr. Phillips' expertise provided valuable information for PRACC members and the broader community. His presentation focused on:
Understanding the nature and potency of fentanyl.
Identifying the various forms in which fentanyl can be encountered.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of fentanyl exposure.
Discussing harm reduction strategies and resources available to the community.
This timely discussion aimed to equip PRACC members and the public with the knowledge and tools needed to address the growing fentanyl crisis and promote community safety.
“Why is fentanyl so bad?” Dr. Philips questioned, during his presentation. “It's the lack of tolerance and inexperienced users. It's the potency of fentanyl, being hundreds of times more potent than morphine and it’s the deceptive marketing where people aren't aware of what they're getting.”
Dr. Phillips went on to discuss the varying types of fentanyl exposure.
Inhalation (fume, smoking).
Insufflation (powder).
Injection.
Insertion.
Water.
Food.
“Smoke is essentially just particles but they're really tiny particles. And so the more concentrated form, you have a lot more micrograms of fentanyl, in this volume than you would in a smoke, volume or in powder that's in the air just because it's in the air.”
Dr. Phillips then explained comparisons between smoking fentanyl and intravenous users.
“People who smoke fentanyl get about the same amount in their bloodstream [as opposed to intravenous users]. There is a slight delay of only about 30 seconds to 45 seconds to the peak concentration that essentially,” Dr. Phillips says. “Smoking is very similar to doing an IV.”
Speaking on the importance of Narcan, Dr. Phillips says not to worry about the user experiencing opioid withdrawal afterward, in contrast to alcohol or benzodiazepines withdrawal being deadly.
“Nobody dies from opioid withdrawal; you just feel like you're going to die from opioid withdrawal and [the user] will tell you that but they really won't.
Looking to the future of Narcan, Dr. Phillips says he hopes everyone can take a basic CPR course and begin carrying Narcan.
“I’d really appreciate if we can make naloxone free and more widely available,” says Dr. Phillips. “I think you should realized Naloxone is very effective for opioids.”