Actor Hayden Panettiere’s death linked to fentanyl: What makes the opioid so dangerous?

The death of actress Hayden Panettiere has once again highlighted the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid so potent that even minute amounts can lead to fatal overdoses. Panettiere, 36, was found unresponsive at her home in South Carolina and was ruled to have died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, among other substances. Fentanyl is a powerful, fast-acting synthetic opioid that is chemically manufactured, unlike opioids like morphine and codeine derived from opium poppy plants.

It is 30 to 100 times stronger than heroin or morphine, and can be found in counterfeit pills disguised as legitimate prescription drugs. Its high potency means that the margin between a safe dose and a lethal one is narrower than with less potent opioids. When taken, fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system, which regulate pain, breathing, and other body functions.

In an overdose, it can suppress the brain's ability to breathe, leading to potentially fatal respiratory depression. If someone is unresponsive or showing other signs of overdose, naloxone (Narcan) can quickly reverse the effects. Despite a decline in fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. in 2023, it still accounted for over 69% of all overdose fatalities, underscoring its deadly impact.

In India, heroin and its derivatives remain the most common opioids leading to addiction, with an estimated 63 lakh people addicted to heroin compared to 25 lakh to pharmaceutical opioids.