Educational Media Reviews Online

Human Relations Media has once again succeeded in presenting coverage of a timely and significant topic in an extremely accessible manner. There is no doubt about producer/director Scott Sniffen’s perspective for this program—fentanyl and other synthetic opiods are extremely dangerous and often deadly. Coming near the end of the video is an example that drives home the message best: in other Human Relations Media videos about the dangers of addictive drugs, they usually present recovered users to tell their stories. In making this program, users’ stories could only be relayed through the palpable sadness of parents who lost their children to fentanyl and carfentanyl use.

From the opening scenes of clips from television news programs to the chemical reasons for addiction to parental testimonies, this program provides a succinct and captivating overview of fentanyl. It reviews the differences between opiates, semi-synthetic opioids and synthetic opioid analgesics. The simple animations of what happens the brain are clear and effective. The reasons for fentanyl entering the street drug trade are expounded as well as the ease with which it can be laced into other drugs such as heroin and marijuana, unbeknownst to users. The deadly properties of fentanyl and carfentanyl are explained, along with probably the deadliest reason—that first euphoric high that users are chasing can never be achieved again. Aimed at a middle school through young adult audience, this program is highly recommended for middle school, high school, community college and college library collections.