“What does fentanyl do to you?” is a common question researched on the internet. This potent synthetic opioid binds to your brain’s opioid receptors, leading to powerful pain relief and intense euphoria. But this comes at a high price—fentanyl is infamous for its high addiction potential and risk of fatal overdose, especially when misused. Uncover the dual nature of fentanyl, its impact on your body and mind, and why safety and awareness are critical when handling this drug.
Understanding Fentanyl’s Impact on the Body
Fentanyl has a paradoxical existence. On one hand, it’s a lifesaver, offering relief to those writhing in the throes of severe pain. On the flip side, it has a dark persona, easily morphing into a harbinger of addiction and death if misused. The way fentanyl affects each person can vary, making careful monitoring crucial.
The understanding of fentanyl begins with its impact on the brain. It binds to opioid receptors, reducing sensitivity and making it difficult to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug itself. This is what leads to addiction, a sinister trap that can affect even those who use fentanyl as prescribed.
The Potency of Fentanyl Compared to Other Opioids
Fentanyl’s potency is a key factor behind its lethal reputation. It’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. This potency also means fentanyl has a higher affinity for opioid receptors, enhancing its effects compared to other opioids.
However, this increased potency is a double-edged sword. While it makes fentanyl an effective painkiller, it also significantly raises the risk of overdose death due to its ability to suppress respiration. This underscores the importance of understanding the potency of fentanyl before using it.
How Fentanyl is Used Medically
Despite its risks, fentanyl has important medical uses. It’s used to manage severe pain stemming from major trauma, surgery, or chronic pain associated with cancer. Fentanyl’s strength and quick onset of action make it a reliable choice for these situations.
In medical settings, fentanyl is available in various forms, including patches, lollipops, and injections. Each form has its specific uses and administration methods, providing versatility in pain management.
The Reality of Illicit Fentanyl Use
While fentanyl plays a critical role in pain management, its potency and quick onset of action have made it a popular choice in the illegal drug market. Illicit fentanyl and its fentanyl analogues, often categorized as illicit drugs, are frequently combined with other drugs and marketed in various forms, such as powders, nasal sprays, and pills designed to imitate prescription opioids. This practice poses serious health risks to consumers, especially when pharmaceutical fentanyl is misused or abused.
The high potency of fentanyl, even in small amounts, has contributed to its proliferation in illegal drug markets, making it difficult to detect its presence. The result has been a surge in overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which increased more than 7.5 times from 2015 to 2022.
The Immediate Effects of Fentanyl on Users
Fentanyl’s appeal lies in its immediate effects. It provides rapid pain relief and a sense of euphoria, making it attractive to both legitimate users and those seeking a high. However, fentanyl also comes with a host of side effects, including:
- Relaxation
- Sedation
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea
among others.
One of the most severe immediate effects of fentanyl use is respiratory depression. This potentially life-threatening side effect can require immediate medical attention. The balance between the sought-after effects and the dangerous side effects is delicate, underscoring the need for careful and monitored use.
Signs of Fentanyl Intoxication
Recognizing the signs of fentanyl intoxication is crucial for users and those around them. Common signs include drowsiness, confusion, and constricted pupils, which may suggest that an individual has taken fentanyl.
However, more severe symptoms can signal a potential fentanyl overdose. These can include:
- Unconsciousness
- Slowed breathing
- Choking sounds
- A limp body
- Cold or discolored skin
Recognizing these signs and seeking immediate medical attention can be the difference between life and death.
Dangers of Respiratory Depression
Fentanyl’s ability to depress the respiratory system is a major concern. By acting on the brain stem to lower the breathing rate, fentanyl can lead to overdose and death. Respiratory depression can progress to respiratory arrest, a condition that can be life-threatening and potentially result in death if not treated promptly.
It is essential to be aware of this risk when using or around those using fentanyl.
Long-Term Consequences of Fentanyl Abuse
The allure of fentanyl’s immediate effects can lead to long-term abuse. The euphoria that fentanyl induces leads to a high potential for addiction. Repeated use causes the brain to become less sensitive, necessitating higher doses to achieve the same effects and ultimately leading to addiction.
Chronic fentanyl abuse can lead to severe physical dependence, with withdrawal symptoms that include muscle and bone pain, sleep disturbances, diarrhea, vomiting, and intense cravings. Long-term misuse can also cause serious health issues, such as hormonal dysfunction, weakened immune systems, and an increased risk of mental health disorders.
The Risk of Overdose Deaths
Fentanyl’s potency and addictiveness make it the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in the United States. Chronic abuse can lead to tolerance, necessitating higher doses for the same effect and increasing the likelihood of a fatal overdose.
An overdose of fentanyl can manifest as:
- Coma
- Changing pupil sizes
- Clammy skin
- Cyanosis
- Life-threatening respiratory failure
The risk of overdose deaths underscores the dangerous nature of fentanyl abuse and the importance of seeking help for addiction.
Managing Chronic Pain Without Addiction
Managing chronic pain without resorting to addictive substances like opioid analgesics, such as fentanyl, is possible. Non-pharmacological means like physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acupuncture can effectively address chronic pain. Additionally, non-opioid medications, including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and certain antidepressants, have been shown to be effective for chronic pain treatment and can even treat severe pain without the same risk for addiction as opioids.
Risk management for chronic pain treatment with addictive substances includes close monitoring of medication use, prescription drug monitoring programs, and using the lowest effective dose. Each patient requires a tailored treatment plan that considers the specific type of pain, patient history, and risk factors for substance use disorders.
Fentanyl Overdose: Recognition and Response
Recognizing and responding to a fentanyl overdose is a vital skill. An overdose can manifest as:
- Stupor
- Changing pupil size
- Cold clammy skin
- Cyanosis
- Coma
- Potentially fatal respiratory depression
Knowing how to respond, such as by administering naloxone and seeking immediate medical attention, can save a life.
In the event of a suspected fentanyl overdose, it is critical to call 911 immediately to receive medical attention. Friends and family members of individuals at risk of opioid overdose should be trained in recognizing an overdose and using naloxone, a medication that can reverse its effects.
Life-Saving Measures with Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication used to quickly reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose, potentially saving lives. Its prompt administration can help restore normal breathing and prevent fatal outcomes. By rapidly binding to opioid receptors, it blocks the effects of opioid drugs like fentanyl. This mechanism allows it to function effectively. By restoring normal breathing, naloxone can act as a life-saving intervention in cases of fentanyl overdose, which can cause hypoxia, leading to coma or death.
Naloxone can be administered quickly via injection or nasal spray, sprayed into one nostril while the person is on their back. If there is no response after a few minutes, the dose can be repeated.
Preventing Overdose in Community Settings
Community strategies for preventing fentanyl overdoses are crucial. Training laypersons in overdose recognition and response protocols can help save lives. Distributing naloxone kits is a key component of overdose prevention strategies within communities.
Some states have facilitated the wider accessibility of naloxone by passing laws that enable pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a personal prescription. This policy can make naloxone more readily available, helping to prevent fatal overdoses.
Treatment Options for Fentanyl Addiction
Overcoming fentanyl addiction is not easy, but there are treatment options available. In addition to other prescription opioids, FDA-approved medications like:
- Buprenorphine available in various forms, such as injections, buccal films, sublingual films, implants, and tablets to treat opioid dependence
- Methadone, administered as tablets or oral concentrates for opioid dependence
- Naltrexone, an extended-release injectable suspension, FDA-approved for opioid dependence treatment
These medications are integral components for treating prescribed fentanyl addiction.
Combining behavioral therapies with medications has shown to be effective in the treatment of fentanyl addiction and managing chronic pain. The digital tool reSET® may be prescribed to support treatment, complementing other therapies such as buprenorphine medication and contingency management. Counseling can help individuals struggling with fentanyl addiction alter their drug-related attitudes and behaviors while fostering life skills essential for recovery.
While effective, treatment for opioid dependency should be regularly evaluated, acknowledging that some individuals might require maintenance treatment indefinitely.
Accessing Health and Human Services
National resources and helplines can provide comprehensive information and support for individuals seeking treatment for fentanyl addiction. The SAMHSA National Helpline provides 24/7 confidential support and referrals to treatment facilities, support groups, and community organizations dedicated to substance use disorder prevention, including fentanyl overdoses.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides a treatment referral routing service that informs about available medications, counseling, and other resources for coping with fentanyl addiction.
For localized assistance, individuals can use the HELP4U text messaging service to send their zip code and receive immediate information about nearby support for substance use disorders.
Safe Handling and Disposal of Fentanyl
It’s important to remember that fentanyl can be dangerous even when not being consumed. When handling a fentanyl patch, it is essential to wear protective gloves to prevent direct skin contact and accidental drug exposure. Used fentanyl patches should be properly folded with the adhesive sides pressed together before disposal to reduce the risk of misuse.
Fentanyl patches should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet to reduce the risk of accidental exposure and to protect the environment. Pharmacies commonly offer a safe place to return fentanyl patches, which is a recommended method for disposing of the medication in a responsible manner.
Protecting Family Members from Accidental Exposure
Keeping fentanyl out of reach of children and pets is crucial to prevent accidental ingestion and serious harm. Fentanyl patches pose a specific risk due to their adhesive backing, which can accidentally stick to skin and cause serious harm if not handled properly.
Ensuring that fentanyl is stored safely and disposed of correctly can protect family members from accidental exposure.
Get Effective Treatment and Reclaim Your Life
Overcoming fentanyl addiction is not an easy journey, but it’s definitely possible. Our Las Vegas addiction treatment center offers professional and experienced inpatient care with comprehensive and individual addiction treatment to help you or your loved one overcome fentanyl dependence and safely manage withdrawal symptoms.
Reclaiming your life from the grip of fentanyl addiction is possible, and the first step is reaching out for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How potent is fentanyl compared to other opioids?
Fentanyl is significantly more potent than heroin and morphine, being up to 50 times and 100 times stronger, respectively.
What are the signs of fentanyl intoxication?
If you notice drowsiness, confusion, constricted pupils, unconsciousness, slowed breathing, or cold/discolored skin, it could indicate fentanyl intoxication. Seek medical help immediately if you observe these signs.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a medication that can quickly reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose by blocking its impact on the opioid receptors. It is a life-saving drug in such situations.
How can chronic pain be managed without resorting to opioids like fentanyl?
Consider managing chronic pain through non-pharmacological methods such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and non-opioid medications. These approaches can offer effective pain management without resorting to opioids like fentanyl.
What is the first step in getting treatment for fentanyl addiction?
The first step in getting treatment for fentanyl addiction is reaching out for help. Consider contacting resources like the SAMHSA National Helpline for referrals to treatment facilities and support groups.
