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Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.

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It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally and used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. it is also used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. Fentanyl's effects can include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, problems breathing, and unconsciousness.

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Fentanyl is becoming more popular. Drug dealers are putting it in other kinds of drugs to get people to come back for more drugs from them.

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When a person is taking the Fentanyl that is prescribed by the doctor you can be dependable on the drug and once you run out of them you will experience the withdraws of them or you may be tempted to go and look for more.

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You can treat Fentanyl addiction by detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and aftercare

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Cities in North Michigan have noticed an increase in Fentanyl overdoses, they also talk about how Narcan is important to keep in a first-aid kits.

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LEELANAU COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- It is a prescription medicine created in a lab meant to treat pain.

It's 50 times more powerful than heroin and a grain of sand amount can kill you.

You've probably heard about fentanyl and the overdoses and deaths associated with it.

What you may not know is that it's here and it's a concern for those on the front lines.

"You would think we're immune to it up here but we're not," said Leelanau County Sheriff Michael Borkovich.

Standing amongst his 911 dispatchers, Sheriff Borkovich knows the next emergency medical call to come in, could be like so many prior calls.

"I would say the majority have something to do with fentanyl," Sheriff Borkovich said.

Dispatchers across northern Michigan are having to send ambulances around the clock to try and save lives.

"Fentanyl kills people. That very small amount of fentanyl will kill somebody," Sheriff Borkovich said. "And this is very important to understand that we are not immune to this, this is up in this region now."

But it's not just deputies and paramedics dealing with it.

"I think it's definitely something that we're seeing in the treatment facilities and our withdrawal management facilities," said Paula Lipinksi, the CEO of Addiction Treatment Services.

"It's being reported to us with our partners through law enforcement," Lipinski said. "It's all over northern Michigan."

And that means it's a concern here at Addiction Treatment Services.

"I would say that the increase in overdoses locally in our area, at least my observations, the agency's observations, would be the connection to fentanyl," Lipinski said.

Most of us probably know that fentanyl is addictive and deadly.

But people may not know much more than that.

"It was created for pain, much like, any other, you know, oxycodone, anything like that," Lipinski said.

Man made in a lab for medicinal purposes, but often misused.

"It's coming from China, primarily through Mexico, it's milled around, it's used to enhance other drugs," Sheriff Borkovich.

Sheriff Borkovich said dealers will often cut their pure product of heroin, cocaine or a host of other drugs with something like baby powder or dry wall dust to increase the volume.

"They're doubling the size of it, basically with inert substances," Sheriff Borkovich said. "So, fentanyl is added to bring the intoxicating effects up to a higher level."

Often, users are unknowingly taking fentanyl taking a deadly risk.

"So they might be thinking I'm just using an opioid not knowing fentanyl is in there, and they're using again, the same amount that they would normally use, but it's so potent that it causes an overdose," said Lipinski.

When it comes to fentanyl, Sheriff Borkovich has a word of warning to anyone who brings it into the community.

"We are spending a lot of time, money and effort tracking where it's coming from," Sheriff' Borkovich said. "So I personally wouldn't want to be a drug dealer in that world right now."

While Lipinski has a word of encouragement to users.

"There's help out there, there's help out there, just ask." Lipinski said. "It's the hardest step, it's the first step but it's the hardest."

And both have the same advice for all of us.

"I would recommend for all parents, all people, to have Narcan at home in their first-aid kits or in their cars, in case you come upon someone, or in case your own family is exposed," Sheriff Borkovich said.

"that is the A number one, is getting Narcan and having it available even if you don't think that you're associating with people who may or may not use a substance," Lipinksi said. "You don't know anymore. It's everywhere."

The advice from law enforcement and addiction specialists is two-fold.

First, talk about this as a community and as families. Make sure everyone knows that this is here and it's a concern.

And second, get Narcan in your car, at your home, at your office.

They say you never know when it might be needed.

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A deadly concern: Fentanyl in northern Michigan

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You've probably heard about Fentanyl on the news, and heard about the overdoses and deaths associated with it. What you may not know is that it's here.

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In the UK that have avoided the worst of the opioid crisis and have only reported 58 deaths in 2021 where Fentanyl was featured on their death certificates.

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The UK must prepare for a fentanyl crisis

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Synthetic opioids cause 70,000 drug overdose deaths a year in the US – we need to prevent a similar epidemic in Britain.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Fentanyl Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 20 Sept. 2021, www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/index.html.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Fentanyl Drug Facts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, 1 June 2021, nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl.

Schollett, Marc. “A Deadly Concern: Fentanyl in Northern Michigan.” WPBN, 24 May 2023, upnorthlive.com/news/local/a-deadly-concern-fentanyl-in-northern-michigan. Accessed 19 Feb. 2024.

Shepherd, Jake. “The UK Must Prepare for a Fentanyl Crisis.” New Statesman, 2 Nov. 2023, www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/healthcare/public-health/2023/11/fentanyl-drugs-opioids-epidemic-crisis-overdose-deaths-us-uk.

Staff, Editorial. “Fentanyl Addiction Treatment, Side Effects & Signs.” American Addiction Centers, 25 Jan. 2023, americanaddictioncenters.org/fentanyl-treatment.