Sober livingThis can be deadly, especially for people who don’t realize they’re taking fentanyl. The growing reports of opioid overdose deaths are overwhelming. If you’re feeling worried—about yourself, your family, or someone close to you—you’re not alone.
Why Is Fentanyl So Dangerous?
- In medical settings, fentanyl is prescribed as pain medication.
- Unfortunately, when fentanyl is powdered, it’s difficult to differentiate it from other powdered drugs, like cocaine.
- People try to never use fentanyl alone and often carry naloxone or Narcan to reverse overdoses.
Despite the lifesaving track records of these medications, their availability is limited by restrictions on where and how they can be used and inadequate numbers of prescribers. From May 2020 to April 2021, more than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, with over 64 percent of these deaths due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogs. Breaking fentanyl addiction is difficult and requires gradual tapering to minimize withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes serious opioid https://ptkkm.com/does-alcohol-raise-blood-pressure-the-next-day-2/ withdrawal syndrome can result in death, so medically assisted detox is almost a necessity, as few can deal with detoxing alone safely. Do not take more of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about your treatment options. Education about the risks of fentanyl use, increased access to naloxone, and comprehensive addiction treatment programs are crucial in addressing this crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl use, it is essential to seek professional help. Recovery is possible with the proper support and treatment. One should always weigh the risks vs the benefits of a drug. Many may be worried about stopping prescription fentanyl due to fear of withdrawal symptoms.
Public Health
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain medication as well as a common contaminant found in illicit drugs. The antidote naloxone (Narcan) can reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose if given in time. Understanding why fentanyl is so dangerous is key to combating the epidemic of overdose deaths that it has fueled.
The Role of Naloxone in Fentanyl Overdoses
While the pandemic is beginning to wane, many people are burned out and struggling to cope with the economic burdens and the loss of loved ones that the pandemic left in its wake. These factors alone are a risk for overdose but taken together, they reflect one of the many tragedies of COVID-19 — the staggering rise of overdose deaths. Fentanyl-related deaths have also been exacerbated by the pandemic. People struggled to access harm reduction programs that enabled them to test their drugs and access recovery resources. Americans are buying other drugs, like cocaine or benzodiazepines, that have been laced with fentanyl. Because the effects of fentanyl are so powerful, it is killing record numbers of unsuspecting Americans.
The Real Reason Fentanyl Is More Dangerous Than Other Opioids
People can test positive for fentanyl for 3 to 5 days after last use. Cognitive-behavioral therapies aim at reducing fentanyl cravings, strengthening coping mechanisms, and promoting recovery. Counseling is one of the methods used to overcome the vice known as addiction. Fentanyl alcoholism treatment use can result in death even with one dose, especially if a person accidentally takes it incorrectly. With the right approach and support system, individuals can reclaim their lives and maintain lasting sobriety.
Dangers Of Fentanyl Addiction
The claim that some of the colors have a stronger effect than others is a myth. This more recent version of fentanyl comes in bright colors. People who make it mix it with dyes and either press it into multicolored pills or sell it in a colored powder form. Fentanyl can also be “diverted.” That’s when the drug is prescribed by a doctor but isn’t used as directed or is sold or given to someone else. Reviewed by Dr. Tyler Trahan, an internal medicine doctor and addiction specialist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Maplegrove.
- If you are wondering why fentanyl is so deadly, the answer lies in its extreme potency, the way it interacts with the brain, and its presence in the illicit drug market.
- Fentanyl’s lethal effects are primarily tied to respiratory depression.
Early action can save lives, and the right drug treatment in Florida has the tools to help you recover from addiction. This means we how long does fentanyl stay in your system support you for a period of time, usually a few months, while helping you take the next step in your recovery journey. During that time, we’ll work with you to find a long-term care provider in the community to continue your treatment and support. Mass General Brigham Bridge Clinics are welcoming, easy-to-access outpatient centers designed to support each person on their journey to recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl, and you wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it.
- Some analogues, such as carfentanil, are even more alarming—reaching up to 10,000 times the potency of morphine.
- “It is all over the place from the East Coast, West Coast and the center of the United States.”
- It is essential to help that person enter an effective drug rehab program at the first moment possible.
- This synthetic opioid, far more potent than heroin, is fueling a tragic and alarming surge in overdose deaths.
It also has a narrow therapeutic window, meaning there’s a very small margin between a dose that’s effective and one that’s fatal. The fentanyl crisis is endangering the most vulnerable, including those experiencing homelessness, mental health disorders, or untreated trauma. The potency of fentanyl makes it risky to handle, even for trained professionals which is why fentanyl is more dangerous than other opioids. Officers and first responders face constant exposure risks, and illegal labs are becoming harder to track. It is possible to test your drugs for fentanyl and other potent opioids like carfentanil by using fentanyl test strips.
Fentanyl overdose occurs when the amount of fentanyl in the body reaches toxic levels and results in life-threatening symptoms, most often suppression of respiratory function. Our programs provide compassionate, evidenced-based therapies, medical detox services, residential treatment, outpatient treatment and virtual treatment programs. One of the reasons fentanyl is so dangerous is its extreme potency.
They may want to impress their peers or be afraid of ostracization from the group if they do not partake in drug use. It is important to note that having risk factors does not guarantee a person will develop a SUD. Fentanyl addiction is a brain disorder that occurs when a person continues to misuse fentanyl even though doing so creates negative consequences in many areas of their life. Shawn Keyes, 44, was prescribed fentanyl patches when he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma skin cancer while in prison in 2003.