Pain management is always an issue on the battle field. Since World War II, a morphine syrette has been used by soldiers and sailors to handle the pain associated with being wounded. The syrette would be injected into a large muscle to help numb the pain. About 2 months ago, corpsmen have started carrying a fentanyl lozange on the end of a stick. The wounded person would place the “morphine lollipop” in between their gums. The fentanyl would slowly dissolve, affecting the nervous system, and help numb the wound person.
Fentanyl is a much more powerful pain relieving agent than morphine. The injection process of the morphine syrette would not always be affective because of the bodies reaction to shock associated with the wound, and the morphine wouldn’t be able to travel properly through the body.
The morphine syrette and the fentanyl lollipops will be carried together by corpsmen. The lollipop are not being used as a replacement, but as another tool to be used. The lollipop has the added bonus of being taken out, as apposed to the morphine which is fully injected into the body.
Morphine and Fentanyl are both very addictive and can cause issues for anyone who uses them over extended periods. The amount being carried by corpsmen will need to be accounted for.
Source [Military Times]