Farah Khorassani, UCI Health Sciences associate clinical professor, shared her insights at Lake Forest’s town hall on fentanyl Feb. 22, hosted by Assemblywoman Diane R. Dixon. A leading expert in the relationship between pharmaceuticals and mental health, Khorassani described the physiological process involved in the transition from prescription to addiction. “Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. It’s addictive because it binds to receptors in the brain that control emotions and pain, producing a euphoric effect,” she said. “The dangers are in illicit forms, usually pressed into counterfeit pills, because only small amounts can lead to a fatality.” Other panelists included Rep. Young Kim; Sgt. Brian Gunsolley of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department; and Perla Mendoza, whose son Eli died of a fentanyl overdose.
Reps. Kim, Castor Urge Congress to Confront Stillbirth Public Health Crisis
Washington, DC – Last week, U.S. Reps. Young Kim (CA-40) and Kathy Castor (FL-14) memorialized the stories of over...
