Hidden Threats: Understanding Fentanyl Misuse and Toxicity
Target Audience: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Tech, Physician Assistant, Physician
Course Overview
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid used for anesthesia and analgesia. The use of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs has increased significantly in the past ten years due to the influx of illegal forms of fentanyl. The consumption of these drugs is a primary contributor to the current opioid crisis in the United States. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is widely available on the street, and it is a relatively common adulterant in heroin. Unfortunately, some of the beneficial pharmacologic properties of fentanyl, such as the rapid onset of action and its high potency relative to other opioids, also make it very dangerous when it is misused. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals are tasked with identifying potential fentanyl misuse and may need to manage acute opioid toxicity in the clinical setting.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the pharmacologic profile of fentanyl
- Explain the benefits and risks of fentanyl and its role in the opioid crisis
- Describe treatment options in situations of fentanyl toxicity
- Discuss the role of healthcare professionals in the management and prevention of fentanyl toxicity
Faculty
Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Continuing Certification is offered for the American Board of Internal Medicine® (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics® (ABP).
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 3.0 Medical Knowledge MOC points. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and post-test, qualifies for MOC points with the following boards:
American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- Anesthesiology
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
- Critical Care
- Internal Medicine
American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
- Pediatrics
- Introduction
- Fentanyl Medical Uses
- Reservoir System
- Matrix System
- Fentanyl and the Opioid Crisis
- Fentanyl as an Adulterant
- The Pattern of Fentanyl Misuse
- Transdermal Fentanyl Absorption
- Preventing Fentanyl Overdose
- Detecting Fentanyl Overdose
- Screening for Fentanyl: Urine Samples
- Screening for Fentanyl: Fentanyl Test Strips
- Pediatric Exposure to Fentanyl
- An Emerging Threat: Fentanyl Adulterated with Xylazine
- Treatment of Opioid and Fentanyl Overdoses
- Naloxone and Opioid Overdoses
- Naloxone and Fentanyl Overdoses
- Dispensing and Administering Naloxone
- Buprenorphine
- Monitoring Fentanyl Overdose Patients
- Education on Opioid Overdose and Response
- Interprofessional Collaborative Approach
- Case Study: Fentanyl Transdermal for Chronic Pain
- Case Study Discussion
- Summary
From January 14, 2026 through January 14, 2029, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to JA_PARS.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in planning, developing, and/or authoring this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP; Sandra Rogers, MD; Jennifer Salvon, RPh; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature, and it is designed solely to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant's professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures, but is for academic purposes only, and this course's limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only, and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.