If a dot of fentanyl can kill you, how do we use it in medicine, and how do people get addicted?

Question

I’ve always heard that a singular dot of fentanyl can kill you. Yet we use it medically, for pain relief. And many people are addicted to it but stay alive while using. Is there like a different method of using it? How do people use it and not die?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

A “dot” of fentanyl probably weighs milligrams whereas in medicine we use micrograms. Furthermore, fentanyl in medicine is used when only in extreme pain, especially broken bones. Often when used outside of the medical setting it’s in a state of abuse/addiction.