What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful drug that has been used for decades as a painkiller.1 Because of its high potential to cause addiction, it has primarily been used to relieve severe pain, such as from advanced cancer or after serious surgery.
Fentanyl is in the same class of drugs as painkillers like morphine or oxycodone and the illegal drug heroin. Those drugs, called opioids, are primarily products of the opium poppy. Some, like heroin and morphine, are directly derived from opium. Others, like oxycodone, are semisynthetic, meaning created in a laboratory from a natural substance.
Fentanyl is 100 percent created in a lab and fully synthetic.
No plant products are needed to make fentanyl, which means it can be created anywhere that lab chemicals can be obtained. This has made it easy for drug-trafficking organizations to manufacture it in illicit labs for distribution as a street drug. In 2013, distribution of fentanyl began skyrocketing in the United States, with resultant overdose deaths increasing from that point forward.
HOW IS FENTANYL USED?
As a pharmaceutical drug, fentanyl can be applied to the skin in a patch, administered as a very low-dosage pill or given in a lozenge, or “lollipop,” that slowly dissolves. There are also sprays used under the tongue or in the nose. Liquid fentanyl may be injected.
Any of these forms of fentanyl can be misused. Patches can be cut up and placed under the tongue or the contents squeezed out and swallowed.
Illicit forms of fentanyl are often found in fake prescription pills, any one of which may be fatal. Powdered fentanyl can be dissolved for injection or for smoking in a glass pipe. Nonpharmaceutical fentanyl can also be added to eyedrops, nasal spray or small squares of blotter paper that users place in their mouths.
Because fentanyl can be combined with methamphetamine* or cocaine, it may be snorted, smoked or injected, with users unaware they are taking fentanyl.
An increasing number of illegal vape products and marijuana are also being laced† with fentanyl, which can be lethal.
* methamphetamine: a dangerous drug that disrupts the nervous system, often known as meth or crystal meth
† lace: to add a small amount of a substance to
WHY IS FENTANYL SO DANGEROUS?
Two factors make fentanyl dangerous and deadly. One is its incredible potency. It is as much as 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. As little as two milligrams of pure fentanyl, which is only a few grains, can be a fatal dose.
The other factor is that people may not even know they are taking fentanyl. It is often mixed with illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. An unknowing user can unexpectedly overdose on fentanyl.
Powdered fentanyl is often pressed into fake pills that look like real prescription drugs. In 2023, law enforcement personnel in the United States seized more than 80 million counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from the black market.
STREET NAMES
Apache
China Girl
China Town
China White
Dance Fever
Drop Dead
Fetty
Friend
Goodfellas
Great Bear
He-Man
Jackpot
King Ivory
Lethal Injection
Murder 8
Poison
Tango & Cash
TNT
FAKE PILLS: ONE PILL CAN KILL
See Drugs & Their Addictions
Public Health a Century Ago - What Changed - Dr. Mercola
Health today looks very different from what it did a few generations ago. If you compare modern health trends with historical records, you'll find that many chronic illnesses that define modern life were uncommon in the past.
People may not have lived as long on average, but those who survived infectious diseases tended to stay strong and independent well into old age. Their bodies didn't break down the way many do now. The question is, why?
Many assume that because medical technology has advanced, people today are healthier than ever. In reality, the rise of modern medicine has not prevented the explosion of chronic disease. Instead, it has created a system that manages symptoms rather than addressing the root causes.
Understanding what worked for past generations provides answers for solving today's health problems. By looking at disease patterns, physical resilience and traditional diets, you'll start to see what went wrong — and more importantly, what you can do to fix it.
Past generations maintained physical resilience through daily manual labor and movement, whereas modern sedentary lifestyles have contributed to earlier onset of mobility issues and frailty
Traditional diets consisted of fresh, unprocessed, seasonal foods from local sources, without artificial additives or preservatives; foods provided complete nutrition through whole ingredients and traditional preparation methods
Reclaiming health requires rejecting modern habits that prioritize convenience at the cost of your health and returning to fundamental principles — nutrient-dense food, regular movement, and minimizing exposure to environmental toxins
(For more go to mercola.com and search for Public Health a Century Ago - I cannot link directly to his articles).
Understanding Nutrition
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Understanding Nutrition and How to Eat Well Course to get educated on how to eat healthy.
Signs Your Nerves Are Healing
Understanding the quiet progress happening beneath the surface.
If you’ve started taking steps to improve your nerve health—whether it’s using targeted nutritional support, managing blood sugar levels, or making healthier lifestyle changes—you might be wondering:
“Is it working?”
The truth is nerve regeneration takes time. And in the early stages, it’s common not to feel dramatic changes. But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.
Here are a few key signs that your nerves may be healing—even if your symptoms haven’t completely gone away:
1. A Shift in Sensation
You may notice your tingling, burning, or numbness changing—becoming lighter, moving locations, or even intensifying slightly before easing. These are often signs of nerve fibers waking back up.
2. Return of Mild Discomfort
It may sound strange, but feeling something again—even if it’s uncomfortable—can be a sign of progress. Damaged nerves may begin to fire again as they heal, leading to unusual sensations at first.
3. Increased Sensitivity in Certain Areas
Areas that once felt “dead” or completely numb may start to regain some sensitivity. Even subtle changes here are a positive step.
4. Improved Balance or Coordination
You may start to feel steadier on your feet or more aware of your foot placement when walking. This often indicates improved nerve-muscle communication.
5. Better Sleep or Fewer Nighttime Flare-Ups
If you’re waking up less due to nerve pain or restless legs, that may reflect reduced nerve irritation as inflammation subsides and circulation improves.
Why You Might Not Feel Better Right Away
Nerve tissue heals slowly—much more slowly than muscle or skin. Depending on the extent of damage, full recovery can take several months or more. And while your body is making progress, the symptoms you feel may come and go, shift around, or even get worse before they get better.
That’s because healing nerves don’t always improve in a straight, predictable path. Instead of a steady upward climb, progress often comes in waves—with good days and bad days mixed in.
But even when it doesn’t feel obvious, your body is still working behind the scenes to repair and rebuild.
But healing is happening—especially when you’re consistent with high-quality nutritional support like benfotiamine, methyl B12, and other targeted nutrients.
Stay the Course—Your Body is Working Behind the Scenes
Just like a broken bone needs time and support to mend, so do your nerves. Each small step forward adds up.
Targeted Nutritional Support
