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It’s almost impossible to read about drug overdoses in the United States and not see mention of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. What is fentanyl? It is an extremely strong painkiller. It produces effects similar to those of morphine but it is 50 to 100 times stronger. Because of fentanyl’s potency, users can easily overdose and the reality is that one pill can kill. If you or a loved one uses this drug, you need to understand the dangers and recognize the signs of fentanyl or fetty overdose. This can help to prevent serious injury or death.
Many people who overdose on fentanyl are addicted to the drug and they need substance abuse treatment to fully recover. This means they need additional care long after being treated for the overdose. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the dangers associated with fentanyl and opioid abuse and how people struggling with dependence or addiction can get the help they need.
Before we go further into discussing fentanyl, it’s important to take a look at exactly what synthetic opioids are and how they differ from naturally occurring opioids. The latter is derived from the opium poppy and they include prescription drugs such as morphine and Vicodin and illegal substances like heroin.
In contrast, synthetic opioids are made in a lab and they are designed to mimic the effects of natural opioids. Some of them, such as fentanyl when it not laced with Xylazine or other compounds, have legitimate medical uses even though they can also be dangerous. The major difference between natural and synthetic opioids is that the synthetic versions are more potent. Synthetic opioids include:
Fentanyl is the best-known synthetic opioid. Prescription versions of the drug include Actiq®, Sublimaze®, and Duragesic®. On the street, illegal forms of fentanyl are known as Jackpot, China White, China Town, China Girl, Apache, and Dance Fever.
The effects of synthetic opioids are similar to those of other opioids, but they are more powerful. The more a person takes these drugs, the more likely it is that they will need to take more and more to feel the effects. The longer people misuse synthetic opioids, the higher the risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using them.
Another of the dangers of synthetic opioids is that the risk of overdose is much higher. Some people start out using prescription medications illegally but when these become too expensive, they turn to cheaper, most readily available illicit drugs. These drugs can contain a variety of dangerous additives.
When it is prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be administered in the form of an injection, a transdermal patch, or a lozenge. However, the fentanyl that’s used on the streets can be in several different forms. It may be dropped onto blotter paper, added to eye drops and nasal spray, or made into pills. Some of these pills are sold as other prescription opioids. Illegal fentanyl may also be a powder.
Drug dealers often mix fentanyl with heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, and even stimulants like cocaine. Just a little fentanyl produces a high so adding it to other drugs makes them cheaper to produce. Unfortunately, people who use illicit drugs don’t always know that they’re laced with fentanyl. Since they may end up taking more potent opioids than they’re used to, the risk of overdose is higher.
Fentanyl was first synthesized in 1960 and it is one of the few prescription opioids that are approved for long-term treatment. It is typically prescribed for people with advanced cancers or those who have undergone surgery.
However, fentanyl is often misused and abused by people who don’t have a prescription. So much so that many cases of drug overdose involve the use of fentanyl. The drug is often mixed with other illegal drugs to heighten the euphoric effects and users don’t always know they’re getting a combination product.
Like other opioids, fentanyl binds to specific opioid receptors including those which control pain and emotions. Common effects can include:
In very rare circumstances, people who use fentanyl can experience hallucinations. This effect is less likely when a patient is using the drug under the supervision of a doctor. However, individuals who abuse fentanyl are most at risk of experiencing visual or auditory hallucinations. Most often, they hear voices that aren’t real. However, people may also hear clapping, music, or random sounds.
Other rare side effects include:
Tolerance refers to when the body needs more of a drug to create the same effect. Dependence is when the brain needs a certain amount of a substance to achieve equilibrium or “feel normal”. Even people who have been prescribed fentanyl can develop tolerance and dependence.
Furthermore, individuals who are not addicted to fentanyl can experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop using it since they have developed tolerance and dependence on the drug.
Depending on how much a person has been using synthetic opioids and for how long, they may go into withdrawal within a few hours of the last dose. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
Because these symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, it is usually difficult for people to stop using synthetic opioids without professional help. Addiction treatment professionals usually advise patients against quitting narcotics cold turkey. That’s because withdrawing from opioids can be highly uncomfortable and stopping use suddenly can trigger severe symptoms. Whether you have a prescription or not, you should reach out to a medical professional if you’re finding it hard to control your fentanyl use.
It is well known that the United States is facing an opioid epidemic. The rate of fatal overdoses involving synthetic opioids other than methadone increased by over 16 percent from 2018 to 2019. In 2019, in excess of 36,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids. The 2019 rate was almost 12 times higher than that of 2013.
Meanwhile, 2020 was a record year for drug overdose deaths, and synthetic opioids including fentanyl were identified as a key contributor to the spike. According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 93,331 drug overdose deaths that year. That was more than 20, 000 deaths above the previous record identified in 2019. It was also the biggest single-year percentage increase since 1999.
To put things into perspective, the percentage of US deaths linked to overdoses grew from 1.9 percent to 2.8 percent since 2015 even though overall deaths increased by more than 300,000 in 2020 because of COVID-19.
Many of these overdose deaths were due to synthetic opioids. While fentanyl had already made its way into the drug supply prior to the pandemic, researchers attributed the most recent surge to increased drug use and higher-risk use. The latter could be due to using drugs while in isolation or combining drugs from unreliable suppliers.
One of the most concerning aspects of the current opioid epidemic is that many people who use fentanyl don’t do so deliberately. They simply don’t know what is in the drugs they’re getting. The crisis involving counterfeit, fentanyl-laced prescription drugs started around 2014. However, it only started getting mainstream attention in 2016 when R&B artist Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. It is believed that his Vicodin was laced.
The situation is so serious that in May 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning about counterfeit pills. The agency urged members of the public to get their prescription drugs solely from state-licensed pharmacies in the US. Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s New Orleans Field Division Brad L. Byerley said Mexican drug trafficking organizations were pushing deadly counterfeit pills into the market so they could expand their business.
Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use. The individual finds it hard to control their behavior even though they’re facing negative consequences. A person who is addicted to fentanyl or another drug will continue to use it despite facing problems at home, school, or work.
Fentanyl is addictive because of its strength. Even individuals who take fentanyl as instructed by their physician can become dependent on the drug. This means they experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking fentanyl. While an individual can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, dependence often leads to addiction. People who are addicted to fentanyl may experience severe withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of the last dose. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include:
One of the reasons that many people find it so hard to stop taking fentanyl is that they want to avoid these symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to seek professional help when you want to stop taking opioids. Ongoing fentanyl abuse increases the likelihood of overdose.
A person who is addicted to fentanyl may show several signs and symptoms including:
People become dependent on opioids such as fentanyl for a variety of reasons. Some are genetically predisposed to addiction. Others start using fentanyl for legitimate reasons and then end up abusing it. They may believe that they will get even better results if they take larger doses or take the drug more frequently than prescribed. However, this can actually worsen their health.
Some people also use fentanyl as a way of masking difficult emotions or treating symptoms of mental health disorders. In many cases, individuals need larger and larger doses to feel the same effects. This is one of the reasons why overdose can occur.
People who use fentanyl as prescribed under a pain management plan are at low risk of overdosing. However, there’s always a danger when a person is abusing fentanyl. Overdose is most often characterized by slow breathing or very shallow breathing along with:
These symptoms can occur within minutes or seconds of consuming a dose of fentanyl.
You need to act quickly if you suspect that someone is overdosing on fentanyl. The most important thing you can do is call 911. Medical personnel will likely administer naloxone if they suspect the person used fentanyl. If you have this drug on hand, you can also administer it since it can reverse a fentanyl overdose when it is administered immediately.
Once a person has recovered from an overdose, they need to seek treatment for their issues with abuse and dependency. The first step is usually to undergo detoxification while under medical supervision. This allows for close monitoring of withdrawal symptoms so that treatment can be administered as necessary.
Patients may be given buprenorphine or methadone to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. These medications work by binding to the same opioid receptors that fentanyl does. Meanwhile, naltrexone may be used to block opioid receptors and prevent fentanyl from having any effect.
The Food and Drug Administration has also approved the non-opioid medication lofexidine to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. A small electrical nerve stimulator called the NSS-2 Bridge device can also be placed behind the person’s ear, it can be used for up to five days to relieve the symptoms of acute withdrawal.
Behavioral therapies are also important when seeking to treat opioid addiction. Through counseling, individuals learn how to alter their attitudes and behaviors surrounding drug use and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Different treatment facilities offer different types of care but most offer cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and contingency management. These treatments are especially effective when paired with medication.
Fentanyl is a dangerous drug but you shouldn’t give up hope if you’ve been misusing it. Long-term recovery from fentanyl is possible but it won’t happen overnight. You need to access the right professional treatment and participate fully. With so many rehab facilities out there, making the right choice can be overwhelming.
That’s why Rehabs Of Armerica exists. We assist individuals with finding addiction treatment facilities that cater to their unique needs. Our team of professionals can connect you with centers that offer a continuum of care. This means you’ll be able to get medically supervised detox, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and regular outpatient programs.
To get started on your journey toward recovery from fentanyl dependence or addiction, call us at any time of the day or night. We’ll let you know which facilities are best suited to your needs and preferences. We may even be able to get you enrolled in a facility within 24 hours. Get in touch with us today so you can get your life back on track!
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
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