Fentanyl (Noun)
Meaning
Trade names of a narcotic analgesic that can be inhaled and that acts on the central nervous system and may become addictive; used as a veterinary anesthetic and with other drugs before, during, and after surgery; also used as a nonlethal gas to incapacitate people in hostage situations; also abused as a recreational drug.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The hospital used a fentanyl patch to help manage the patient's pain after surgery.
- Fentanyl was prescribed to him by his doctor to alleviate chronic back pain but he ended up getting addicted.
- The use of fentanyl as a veterinary anesthetic has become increasingly widespread due to its fast-acting and effective properties.
- Law enforcement have expressed concern about the fentanyl gas used to incapacitate hostages in crisis situations being potentially too potent.
- Coroners have reported a significant rise in the number of overdose deaths linked to the misuse of fentanyl as a recreational substance.