Synthetic Opioids Complicate Crisis News by: Tom Coyne Posted: May 4, 2018 / 02:48 AM EDT / Updated: May 4, 2018 / 02:48 AM EDT The Opioid Crisis is being complicated by the rise in use of synthetic opioids. As an uncontrolled substance, their potency and other factors have helped make them more lethal than prescription drugs. This report talks about efforts to combat it.