Fentanyl: Everything You Need To Know

It is no secret that there is an ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States. Since the late 1990s, there have been three waves of opioid overdose deaths from prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids. 

Most recently, in the third wave, starting in the early 2010s, fentanyl has started taking a hold on the American population. More people are overdosing on this dangerous drug, making the need for education and rehabilitation more critical than ever. Education is the best defense against this epidemic, especially concerning fentanyl today. 

Fentanyl's presence makes opioid abuse more dangerous than ever.

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be used as a prescription medication to treat patients with intense pain, especially after a major operation. This drug is also made and sold illegally because it is 50-100 times more potent than other opioids such as morphine or oxycodone. As a result, some dealers often sell fentanyl as fake oxycodone. 

Today, fentanyl is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 136 people die from an opioid overdose every day with many involving fentanyl. Common street names for fentanyl include China Town, China White, China Girl, Apace, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Poison, and Tango & Cash.

How Is Fentanyl Used?

Fentanyl can be prescribed as a pain medication. Therefore, there are healthy ways of using it that do not put an individual at risk of overdose. This can include a shot, a patch, or a lozenge. Illegal use of fentanyl often involves liquid forms that are dropped onto blotter paper, put into eye droppers, or used as a nasal spray. It can also be in powder form or formed into a pill. Whether a person uses fentanyl legally or illegally, they are at risk of addiction due to the strength of the drug.

Dangers of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid, meaning it is not difficult to overdose while using it. A fentanyl overdose can be severely life-threatening, hence the statistics from the CDC listed above. One of the most dangerous parts of a fentanyl overdose is a condition called hypoxia. This occurs when one's breathing slows or entirely stops, causing oxygen levels in the brain to decrease. This can lead to a coma, permanent brain damage, and even death. 

For these reasons, knowing the signs of fentanyl dependence and addiction can help prevent overdoses and death.

What Does Fentanyl Dependence Look Like?

Due to the strength of fentanyl, the drug poses a significant risk for addiction. Even patients that have been prescribed fentanyl from a doctor are at risk of dependence. It is crucial for individuals to take their medication as prescribed and always let their doctor know if they have a history of substance dependence.

For individuals that do develop a dependence on fentanyl, withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours after the use of the drug is stopped. These can be severe, including:

• Cravings for fentanyl
• Cold flashes
• Leg spasms
• Trouble sleeping
• Pain in muscles and bones
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia

What Does Fentanyl Addiction Look Like?

These withdrawal symptoms can be highly uncomfortable. Therefore, many people end up seeking out and taking more fentanyl to make them stop. This cycle continues, eventually leading to addiction. These individuals may have a change in priorities, shifting their lives to revolve around finding, using, and recovering from fentanyl until they find themselves in a seemingly unbreakable cycle.

Symptoms of fentanyl addiction include:

• Increased tolerance to fentanyl
• Continued use of fentanyl despite its negative impact
• Using fentanyl to avoid or numb emotions/withdrawal symptoms
• Avoiding responsibilities to use fentanyl

The best way to break the cycle of addiction is to seek rehabilitation from an accredited and licensed facility. The road to recovery will typically start with opioid drug detox followed by rehabilitation.

Fentanyl Detoxification

Withdrawal symptoms from ceased fentanyl use typically begin 12-30 hours after last use. The average detox period usually lasts a week or more, with peak symptoms happening in the first couple of days of the detoxification. During this period, individuals may experience:

• Chills
• Back pain
• Restlessness
• Muscle weakness
• Diarrhea
• Low appetite
• Hypertension
• Excessive sweating
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Stomach aches
• Pupil dilation

Once the detoxification process is complete, the patient can then move on to the rehabilitation portion of the recovery. This will usually involve a mixture of therapy and holistic treatment at an addiction center to help you be reincorporated into society.

Early intervention is best when it comes to fentanyl dependence and addiction. Therefore, if an individual is struggling, it is recommended to seek help immediately before sinking lower into addiction.

Fentanyl Addiction Is Lethal. Treatment Starts With Detox

The opioid epidemic is currently in its third wave, with fentanyl being the primary culprit since the early 2010s. Because of the dangers of this potent opioid, educating yourself is crucial to preventing dependence, addiction, and death. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about fentanyl and fentanyl addiction.

Before drug rehab, detox is the first important stage in treatment. Finding a good detox center can be a major challenge, however, which is why we created DetoxNearMe.com. The largest assortment of detox listings online, it’s the ideal resource for starting you (or a loved one’s) journey towards recovery.

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