The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) both say they have not seized portions of fentanyl in their local operations. Meanwhile, Diario Libre reports the Ministry of Public Health said it is in negotiations with a lab in the United States to send local samples to be able to confirm if the lethal drug is circulating in the Dominican Republic.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
13 July 2023