Signs of Fentanyl Use

Recognizing a Loved One’s Drug Use

Maybe you started taking opioids due to prescription use, but you’ve suddenly found that those just couldn’t cut it anymore. Fentanyl is a stronger drug, known for being 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, a drug used to treat severe pain. You may already know how available this dangerous opioid has become.

If you believe that your loved one may be struggling with a fentanyl addiction, you need to know the signs, both physical and mental.

How do you know when you’re looking at the signs of fentanyl use and when do they cross the line into addiction?

We break down the signs of fentanyl use disorder here so that you can be educated before confronting a loved one (or yourself) about drug use. Keep reading to get help and find treatment for fentanyl now!

Physical Symptoms of Synthetic Opioid Use

First and foremost, substance abuse, including fentanyl abuse, manifests with physical symptoms. These are often easy to spot if you’re considering your own drug abuse, but they can be a bit more challenging to spot in others. The symptoms are often present during both active use and withdrawal symptoms.

Here are a few things that you might want to look out for as signs and symptoms of fentanyl addiction:

• Rapid or racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Pounding in the ears
• Tightness in the chest
• Challenges with balance
• Loss of coordination
• Slurred speech
• Respiratory depression

 

In addition to these symptoms, you might notice a few other key signs that can be a bit confusing. For example, you or your loved one may experience either psychomotor retardation (moving slower than usual) or psychomotor agitation (moving more frequently, becoming restless or anxious).

Fentanyl addiction often results in both insomnia and drowsiness, depending on the person and the dose of fentanyl that they have taken.

However, one of the easiest signs and symptoms is to look your loved one in the eye. Constricted pupils are a common physical side effect of fentanyl use disorder.

Cognitive Symptoms of Substance Abuse

Fentanyl abuse played out in physical signs and symptoms in many studies, but that isn’t the only change noticeable. Many people can spot the cognitive impairments caused by this drug and other opioids. Noting some of these risk factors can help you spot symptoms of fentanyl addiction quickly.

For example, many people who take these opioid analgesics will have impairments in both their memory and judgment. They may not remember simple things that you told them just hours before. Alternatively, they make decisions that seem risky or will have a poor outcome. It may seem like they have not thought through their actions fully — and there is a good chance that they haven’t!

Many people also note challenges with attention and concentration. This one can be tricky to spot as co-occurring disorders like attention-deficit hyperactive disorder can impact someone in much the same way. However, if attention and concentration are not generally symptoms of another disorder in your loved one, it could be due to fentanyl withdrawal or use.

Behavioral Symptoms & Negative Consequences

Fentanyl abuse continues with behavioral symptoms that may be the most noticeable for outside observers. If you suspect that your loved one may have a fentanyl addiction or have the risk factors for fentanyl addiction, behavioral symptoms are often the first clue. Many people are familiar with these symptoms, as they are similar to those of alcohol abuse.

For example, people who use fentanyl often check out of their regular responsibilities and duties. They may have many frequent and extended absences from work. However, it can also impact family members if they do not take care of daily responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, or even personal hygiene. Parents may forget to pick their children up from school or forget about important appointments.

If they do show up to these daily activities, you might notice that their participation and performance are on the decline. They are less involved in day-to-day tasks and may have a harder time acting “normal” when necessary.

Psychological Signs of Opioid Use Disorders

Last but not least, it is important to take a quick look at some of the psychological symptoms that accompany the use of fentanyl and other opioids. The American Psychiatric Association notes several such warning signs.

The most serious concern that you should be on the lookout for is suicidal ideation. Taking fentanyl is one of the risk factors for suicide attempts.

That being said, it is also common for people who struggle with fentanyl addiction to have the following signs of depression, such as:

• Persistent feelings of sadness
• Lack of interest in hobbies that they once enjoyed
• Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Social withdrawal

 

On the other hand, those who are in active addiction may experience surging feelings of happiness or well-being. These euphoric moods last while the fentanyl is in their system. As the drug leaves their body, the happiness tends to give way to apathy and disinterest in things that they once enjoyed.

Co-occurring disorders and mental health conditions are also prone to be worsened by constant cycles of fentanyl use and withdrawal.

Recognizing the Signs of Addictive Behaviors

Once occasional fentanyl use turns into fentanyl use disorder, you might notice a few other symptoms that take up your loved one’s time and attention. Namely, they will be more focused on when and how they can get their next fix. They might start forging prescriptions or meeting up with dealers who carry opioids.

Most of their time will be spent making it from one quick fix to the next. They will either be under the influence of fentanyl, recovering from their last use of fentanyl, or actively seeking more of the drug. They may take extreme actions to get fentanyl in their system such as eating the gel beads out of a patch.

Regardless of how negatively it impacts their day-to-day life and relationships, they will be concerned with how to get more. As with other substance use disorders, they may panic at the idea that they won’t be able to obtain fentanyl the next time they need a fix. It will consume much of their time and attention.

What are the Symptoms of Fentanyl Overdose?

If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from a fentanyl overdose, take them to the emergency room right away. When an overdose occurs, getting immediate medical attention is crucial for their long-term health and improving outcomes. Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include all of the physical symptoms listed above as well as:

• Skin that feels cold or clammy to the touch
• Shallow breathing or labored breathing
• Inability to carry on a conversation
• Intense confusion or disorientation
• Inability to walk
• Dizziness
• Extremely slurred speech

Common Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

When someone struggling with fentanyl use disorder struggles to get enough for their next fix, they will present with a few common withdrawal symptoms. These can sometimes be a bit challenging to tease out from an illness like the flu or the common cold. However, look at the bigger picture to determine if any of these symptoms are bothering you or your loved one:

• Low or depressed mood
• Increased cravings for the drug
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Dilated pupils
• Muscle aches and fever
• Diarrhea

 

Oftentimes, these symptoms of withdrawal from fentanyl abuse and other opioid use disorders tend to be very uncomfortable. They are easily noticeable to those around them and can signal to you that a loved one needs help.

While these symptoms could be confused for normal illness, consider if you have noticed any of the other symptoms of fentanyl abuse in the past few days or weeks.

Find Help for Fentanyl Abuse Now

Whether you or a loved one are struggling with fentanyl addiction, there is hope and healing available. At Find Addiction Rehabs, we can help you find the detox centers and rehab facilities that are covered by your insurance program. Allow us to start verifying your insurance in just five minutes so that we can guide you in the decision-making process. We can even help you with same-day admissions to some facilities.

Reach out to our admissions staff today to help coordinate your next move when it comes to coping with fentanyl abuse!

Medically Reviewed By