Bulgaria is entering a dangerous new phase in the spread of synthetic drugs, with experts warning that fentanyl-related deaths could soon rival the country's annual road accident fatalities if stronger action is not taken.
Dr. Olympiad Atmazhova, a toxicologist at the University Hospital "Dr. Georgi Stransski" in Pleven, said an average dose of just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be enough to cause a fatal overdose in an adult.
According to Dr. Atmazhova, fentanyl overdoses develop rapidly and are often impossible to reverse without immediate specialized treatment. Victims stop breathing, their skin turns blue, their pupils constrict, and they quickly fall into a coma.
"With fentanyl, the line between a dose and an overdose is extremely thin," she said. "It is rarely used in its pure form. It is usually mixed with other narcotics, and sedative pills contaminated with fentanyl are already available on the market. Most users don't even realize they are taking fentanyl because it is hidden inside other drugs."
She warned that fatalities can occur within seconds if emergency medical care is not provided.
