23,368,000,000 milligrams. 2 milligrams can be fatal for an average sized adult. That is enough to kill 10 billion people. To put it another way 100mcg is a typical starting dose, so this supply has 230,000,000,000 doses.
I just checked the DEA yearly aggregate quota for Fentanyl and it is 1,185 kg. Or 1.1 metric tons.
12.5mcg per hour is a starting dose, usually administered via transdermal patch outside of a hospital, IV otherwise. I was given a 5mg dose the last time I had surgery, administered by an anesthesiologist.
100mcg is on the high end, approaching what would be given to a cancer patient or someone who has been on opioids for many years and is tolerant. I’m not even on a dose that high, and I’ve been on it for more than ten years, but without a dosage change in the last seven.
This is a massive risk, however. We know that the hardware and technique needed to create artificial opiates hardly exists in Mexico. The expertise and knowledge are not there for such a huge scale. The DEA has known for years that it comes from China, but our government (nor any others, apparently) seek to punish China for polluting our streets and those of other nations with this poison.
Actually, 50 micrograms is a common dose. This is an enormous amount of fentanyl.
#19. Well that’s one way to get rid of the rat problems in Baltimore, LA, SF, NY, Chicago, etc. (2 and 4 legged type critters, you know). /sarc