Final answer:
Fentanyl is produced in legal pharmaceutical labs and illicit labs associated with crime syndicates. The opioid epidemic was fueled by restricted access to prescription pain meds, leading to the rise of heroin and fentanyl use. Addiction treatment includes psychotherapy and medications such as methadone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which is manufactured in pharmaceutical laboratories by professional chemists, as well as illicitly by clandestine labs associated with crime syndicates. The creation of fentanyl involves complex chemical synthesis where precursor chemicals are subjected to multiple reaction steps to produce the final potent opioid. In response to aggressive policing of pill mills and the reformulation of Oxycodone, the scarcity and higher street prices of prescription opioids have led to an increase in the use of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. These substances, which are significantly more potent than heroin and prescription pain relievers, are illicitly produced and distributed by organized crime groups in various countries, including the US, Mexico, and China.
The onset of the opioid epidemic in the United States can be linked to a dramatic increase in the medical use of prescription painkillers, coupled with the influx of cheap heroin by Mexican drug cartels. This shift was intensified when the FDA recommended tighter controls on opioid prescriptions in 2013, pushing those addicted to prescription opioids to seek out cheaper and more potent substances such as heroin laced with synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanyl, which carry a high risk of overdose and death.
Treatment for opioid addiction often involves psychotherapy and may be supported by medications such as methadone to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can also be instrumental in the recovery process for individuals struggling with dependency.