芬太尼對大腦的影響（修正版）：英語精讀講義

Fentanyl is not a new drug

吩坦尼並不是一種新藥

but has seen such a dramatic increase in the past three years 講解

但在過去三年裡，它的使用量急遽增加

that it has become a crisis in North America.

以至於在北美引發了一場危機。

Simply touching it may cause you to overdose. 文法

光是接觸它，就可能導致藥物過量。

So, what exactly does it do to your brain and body? 表達脈絡

那麼，它究竟會對你的大腦和身體造成什麼影響？

Fentanyl is an opioid that can inhibit pain signals 片語搭配

吩坦尼是一種類鴉片藥物，能夠抑制疼痛訊號

in multiple pathways along the brain and spinal cord.

在大腦與脊髓多條路徑中的傳遞。

This is why it was initially prescribed for pain relief. 表達脈絡

這正是它最初被用於止痛治療的原因。

It also causes your brain to make extra dopamine

它還會促使大腦產生更多多巴胺

creating sensations of intense euphoria and relaxation. 文法

從而帶來強烈的欣快感與放鬆感。

Essentially, fentanyl hijacks your body's built-in system of endorphins 慣用語

從本質上來說，吩坦尼會劫持人體自身的腦內啡系統

by binding to your opioid receptors

方法是與鴉片受體結合

much in the same way your endorphins do 文法

就像腦內啡所做的那樣

but at a significantly stronger level.

但作用強度要高出許多。

This might sound fun 表達脈絡

這聽起來也許很美妙

but activating these receptors can also suppress your brain's ability 片語搭配

但活化這些受體也會抑制大腦

to detect CO2 levels in the body,

偵測體內二氧化碳濃度的能力，

potentially causing a person to stop breathing.

甚至可能讓人停止呼吸。

On top of this, 表達脈絡

除此之外，

side effects include dizziness, chills, vomiting, fainting,

副作用還包括暈眩、寒顫、嘔吐、昏厥、

difficulty urinating, and extreme constipation. 文法

排尿困難與嚴重便祕。

In addition, fentanyl is much stronger than other opioids,

此外，吩坦尼的效力遠強於其他類鴉片藥物，

100 times stronger than morphine 文法

是嗎啡的100倍

and 50 times stronger than heroin.

也是海洛因的50倍。

For many drugs to work, 文法

許多藥物要發揮作用，

they need to pass the blood-brain barrier. 用詞

就必須穿過血腦障壁。

This barrier allows small fat-soluble substances to pass 文法

這道障壁會讓小型脂溶性物質通過

and water-loving molecules to be inhibited.

同時阻擋親水性分子。

Both morphine and heroin are lipid-soluble

嗎啡與海洛因都具有脂溶性

but they have polar water-loving groups 用詞

但它們含有極性的親水基團

that make them pass the barrier much more slowly,

因此穿過這道障壁的速度慢得多，

whereas fentanyl is extremely non-polar and fat-soluble 表達脈絡

而吩坦尼則高度非極性，且脂溶性很強

entering the brain within seconds.

能在幾秒內進入大腦。

This means you only need tiny amounts to get high 用詞

這代表只要極少量，就能讓人產生強烈快感

and that's where, in part, the danger lies. 表達脈絡

而它的危險也有一部分源於此。

A lethal dose of fentanyl can be around 2 mg in a test tube

在試管中，吩坦尼的致死劑量可能只有約2毫克

that looks like two grains of salt.

看起來只有兩顆鹽粒那麼多。

And since a high level of precision

而且，由於必須極度精準

is needed to dose it effectively,

才能控制好劑量，

it's very easy to overdose.

所以非常容易用藥過量。

In fact, there are some reported incidents of first responders 文化背景

事實上，有報導指出，一些緊急救援人員

ODing from simply touching fentanyl powder 用詞

光是因為接觸了吩坦尼粉末

or inhaling its dust.

或吸入其粉塵，就發生了藥物過量。

Though some toxicologists doubt the accuracy of these cases. 表達脈絡

不過，有些毒理學家質疑這些案例是否準確。

If it can be administered in time, 用詞

如果能及時使用，

an injection of naloxone can be given to a person 文化背景

可以為患者注射納洛酮

which works to stop an overdose by blocking opioid receptors. 文法

它會阻斷鴉片受體，進而逆轉藥物過量。

But the science cannot keep up 片語動詞

但科學研究的速度趕不上

with the rate of new fentanyl analogs being produced, 用詞

新型吩坦尼類似物的製造速度，

like carfentanil which is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine

例如效力是嗎啡1萬倍的卡芬太尼

and has been cited for its possible use in chemical warfare.

有資料指出，它可能被用於化學戰。

Today, drug overdose deaths in America are rising faster than ever 文法

如今，美國因藥物過量而死亡的人數正以前所未有的速度上升

with 65,000 deaths in 2016 compared to 59,000 in 2015

2016年有6.5萬人死亡，而2015年為5.9萬人

and opioid use is the crux of the problem. 慣用語

類鴉片藥物的使用正是問題的核心。

For context, 表達脈絡

作為對照，

this is higher than the peak gun deaths,

這個數字高於槍枝致死人數的歷史高峰，

peak HIV deaths, and peak car crash deaths.

也高於HIV相關死亡人數與車禍死亡人數的歷史高峰。

All evidence points towards the problem worsening by the end of 2017. 片語搭配

所有證據都顯示，到2017年年底，這個問題還會進一步惡化。

The reason? 表達脈絡

原因是什麼？

Research points to widespread prescription of opioids for pain

研究顯示，醫師普遍開立類鴉片藥物來止痛

which leads to addiction.

而這會導致成癮。

There's also an ease of access for non-prescribers 片語搭配

此外，沒有處方箋的人也很容易取得這些藥物

causing millions of tablets to fall into the wrong hands. 慣用語

使數百萬顆藥錠落入不該持有它們的人手中。

As the danger became more clear,

隨著這種危險變得愈來愈明顯，

doctors decreased prescriptions of opiates

醫師減少了類鴉片藥物的處方量

but this didn't change the fact that thousands of people were addicted, 文法

但這並未改變已有數千人上癮的事實，

causing them to seek out illegal markets. 片語動詞

於是他們轉向非法市場尋藥。

With an increase in demand,

隨著需求增加，

illicit drug markets turned to cheaper production solutions. 片語動詞

非法毒品市場轉而採用成本更低的生產方式。

Unlike heroin which is synthesized from poppies, 文法

與從罌粟合成的海洛因不同，

fentanyl is entirely synthetic and can be made anywhere for cheap. 用詞

吩坦尼完全由人工合成，能在任何地方以低成本製造。

China has become a heavyweight in manufacturing fentanyl 慣用語

中國已成為吩坦尼的製造重鎮

and North American law is working to seize supply.

而北美執法單位正努力截斷其供應。

However, the UN urges that solutions to the crisis

然而，聯合國強調，化解這場危機的方法

will lie in persuading people not to use opiates 片語搭配

在於勸說人們不要使用類鴉片藥物

as blocking China's market may simply cause production to move to another nation.

因為封鎖中國市場可能只會讓生產轉移到另一個國家。

Several experts are calling for government support 片語動詞

多位專家呼籲政府提供支持

for safe consumption sites where people suffering addiction can be supervised, 講解

設立安全用藥場所，讓成癮者能在監督下使用藥物，

minimizing risk of overdose,

從而盡量降低藥物過量的風險，

and be supported with counseling

並為他們提供心理諮商

and anti-withdrawal drugs that can help people stop using.

以及緩解戒斷症狀、幫助他們停藥的藥物。

But can some drugs be good for you?

但有些藥物會不會反而對你有好處？

Check out our second video here

來看看我們的第二支影片

where we look through the surprising benefits of some illegal drugs

我們會在片中介紹一些非法藥物令人意外的益處

and what new research is revealing.

並看看新研究揭示了什麼。

Check it out by clicking the screen

點一下畫面就能觀看

or using the link in the description.

也可以使用說明欄中的連結。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos every Thursday.

別忘了訂閱，每週四收看更多科學影片。