Fentanyl regulation: medical use vs. abuse
David Kershenobich, head of the Ministry of Health (Ssa), reported that the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) maintains a registry of anesthetic substances, including fentanyl for medical use. The objective is to regulate the conditions of its use.
“It is very relevant to be able to separate the medical use from the abuse in the consumption of these types of substances. Not all of them can be prohibited because it is required in anesthesia situations to use some of these types of medications,” he explained.
The official highlighted the importance of having alternatives for pain management, such as pregabalin, which are effective.
Strict regulatory framework in Mexico
During the morning conference last Tuesday, Kershenobich pointed out that certain anesthetics are essential for surgeries, so they cannot be eliminated.
Alejandro Svarch Pérez, general director of IMSS Bienestar, stressed that Mexico has the most rigorous regulatory framework in North America regarding chemical precursors for medical grade fentanyl. There are also other non-medical fentanyls, synthetic drugs produced under design.
Svarch explained that fentanyl is used in surgical procedures and for chronic diseases such as cancer. Mexican regulation contemplates a strict methodology to control the precursors used in its production.




