[jfyi]

Is fentanyl even that big of an issue in a clinical setting? It's not like it's the go to opiate of choice for general pain anyway.

The problem with fentanyl is that it is easy to make and smuggle and we managed to leave a giant black market hole to be filled when we went ape shit about oxy, which was an objectively better situation than we are currently in with street opiates.

[droopyEyelids]

Yes, it is an issue.

One of the big problems with anesthesia is balancing respiratory depression while medicating the patient enough to manage the symptoms. Fentanyl is used in anesthesia and it causes respiratory depression.

A strong pain medication that doesn't slow or stop breathing would significantly improve the safety of anesthesia.