Toxicologist Suela Xhufi, invited to the “Dita jonë” show on A2 CNN, has raised the alarm about the danger of fentanyl and the possibility that this very powerful opioid may also circulate in Albania through the black market, disguised under other names.
She said that the main risk lies in users’ lack of awareness of what they are actually consuming.
“In America, in the 90s, if I’m not mistaken, it was decided that fentanyl would also be used post-surgically in patients who had undergone a surgical intervention, for pain relief. This was the reason why an epidemic level of fentanyl use began in patients recovering from these types of interventions. In Albania, this type of therapy has never been done. In our country, tramadol or other preparations are used, but not morphine in postoperative cases. This was precisely the reason why fentanyl was used in America in a very frightening way, because it has a very high affinity for creating addiction in patients. It requires a very small dose to lead to the death of the patient. The lethal dose is about 2 mg, while therapeutic doses are measured in micrograms,” said Xhufi.
Xhufi points out that the decline in opium production in Afghanistan has led to an increase in the production of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, carfentanil or nitazene, even more powerful and very dangerous substances, not approved by the FDA. She warns that on the illegal market, fentanyl can be sold disguised as other drugs, such as benzodiazepines or analgesics, endangering the lives of people who are not opiate users.
“On December 15, Trump decided that fentanyl should move from the second level to the first level, meaning that it should no longer be used in patient prescriptions, due to the negative effects and rapid addiction it causes. This is why I see a risk for the Albanian market as well. The risk lies in the fact that fentanyl can be used under another name and introduced as a benzodiazepine, such as lorazepam or oxycodone, always talking about the illegal market. The patient who takes these substances has no idea that they are using a deadly therapy, especially in cases where they are not opiate users. Fentanyl cannot be obtained without a prescription. I, as a doctor, cannot give it. In Albania, by law, fentanyl can only be prescribed by oncologists and anesthesiologists-resuscitators. It is only given in the form of patches or nasal sprays. Any other form is a black market. There is no possibility of taking it in tablet form,” she said.
According to the doctor, the cases found in Albania are sporadic and mainly related to people who have come from abroad, but the risk remains real and requires maximum vigilance. “Despite the fact that it is relatively easy to access on the black market, we do not have massive use. Personally, I have only had four cases of fentanyl users. They are not regular users, as in the case of cocaine, but sporadic cases. All of these cases have come from America or other countries, so they are not residents of Albania.” (A2 Television)