Understanding the reasons behind this hazardous trend is essential for addressing the escalating opioid crisis and implementing effective treatment and prevention strategies.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful and dangerous drug, available both through prescription and illicit manufacturing. When produced illegally, it comes in the form of a powder or pressed into counterfeit pills. This makes it less expensive to produce a strong drug but can make opioid overdose deaths much more likely.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and a common prescription pill used to treat patients for pain management. Known for its extraordinary potency, it is estimated to be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. When dispensed in pill form under medical supervision, fentanyl is intended to provide relief from severe or chronic pain that cannot be managed by other medications. However, due to its strength, fentanyl pills must be used with extreme caution, as even a slight dosage miscalculation can lead to serious side effects or overdose.
What is Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl or Synthetic Opioids?
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl refers to fentanyl that is produced illegally outside of regulated pharmaceutical environments. Unlike pharmaceutical fentanyl, which is created under strict quality controls and prescribed for legitimate medical purposes, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often made in unregulated, secret labs and sold by drug dealers.
This illegal production process lacks oversight, leading to varying purity levels and the potential for contamination with other substances. Because it’s so unpredictable and often more potent than expected, it makes using these drugs much more dangerous and a big part of the ongoing opioid crisis.
Synthetic Opioids
Fentanyl is a type of synthetic opioid, meaning a type of opioid that is chemically created by drug traffickers rather than being derived from natural sources like the opium poppy. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are designed to mimic the effects of natural opioids, such as morphine or heroin, by binding to the same receptors in the brain and body to relieve pain.
Examples include:
- Fentanyl: Extremely potent, used medically for severe pain, but also widely abused.
- Methadone: Used for pain management and as part of drug addiction detox programs.
- Tramadol: A less potent opioid used for moderate pain.
Opioids can be highly effective for pain relief, but their potency and potential for abuse and overdose are significant concerns.
Which Drugs Are Laced with Fentanyl?
There are several illicit drugs that are commonly laced with manufactured Fentanyl. When this is done, the risk of side effects increases, and there is a high probability of a potentially lethal dose. Fentanyl is a difficult drug to detect because it cannot be seen or smelled.
Fentanyl is commonly laced with several other drugs, including:
- Heroin: Often mixed with fentanyl to increase the potency of the drug.
- Cocaine: Combined to create a stronger, more addictive drug.
- Methamphetamine: Sometimes laced with fentanyl to enhance its effects.
- Counterfeit Prescription Pills: Fake versions of medications like oxycodone, Xanax, and hydrocodone frequently contain fentanyl.
These combinations increase the risk of drug overdoses, including overdose deaths, as users may not be aware of fentanyl’s presence.
The Reason Why Drugs Are Laced with Fentanyl
Illicit drugs, like heroin, are laced with Fentanyl because of its extreme potency. This means the substances can have a much stronger effect and cost less to produce in vast quantities when Fentanyl is added to them.
However, this is what makes them so risky. Many people who take drugs have no way of knowing if any other substances have been added.
How Does Fentanyl Work?
Fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain and providing intense relief while also creating euphoria that can lead to misuse and addiction. Long-term use can make it hard to experience pleasure without the drug and can slow the central nervous system, causing hazardous side effects like slowed breathing.
Tolerance to fentanyl can also develop, requiring higher doses and increasing the chance of overdose, especially if abused or unknowingly ingested.
What are the Short-Term Side Effects of Fentanyl?
The short-term side effects of fentanyl can include:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Small pupils
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
- Unconsciousness
What are the Long-Term Side Effects of Fentanyl?
Long-term effects of fentanyl can include:
- Fentanyl overdoses
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- Bone fractures
- Chronic constipation/bowel obstruction
- Respiratory problems
- Immune system suppression
- Hormonal and reproductive issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Severe withdrawal symptoms
Are You At Risk of an Opioid Overdose?
Anyone using fentanyl, whether prescribed or illicit, is at risk of overdose. This includes people who use street drugs, those with opioid tolerance, and individuals with lower drug tolerance who might encounter fentanyl unexpectedly.
Chronic substance abusers are at an even higher risk of overdose due to fentanyl’s high potency and unpredictability. Additionally, those with certain medical conditions or experimenting with substances are taking an even bigger gamble. Fentanyl’s potency and ubiquity in the market means it is essential to understand and manage these risks carefully.
To reduce these risks, it’s crucial to avoid using fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Always follow your doctor’s instructions and discuss potential risks if it’s prescribed.
Signs of Fentanyl Overdose
A fentanyl overdose can look like:
- Small pupils
- Losing consciousness or falling asleep
- Having slow breathing or no breathing at all
- Choking sounds
- Body going limp
- Cold, clammy skin
- Discolored skin
If you suspect someone has overdosed, you should immediately call 911 or seek medical treatment. You can also lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Fentanyl
The DEA underscores the extreme strength of fentanyl. This powerful drug is a major concern due to its high instances of overdose, especially when illicitly manufactured and mixed with other narcotics. Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can be fatal, making it crucial for it to be used only as directed. The DEA is actively combating illegal fentanyl distribution and supports naloxone as a key tool for reversing overdoses.
Treatment Options for Fentanyl Addiction
If you are addicted to Fentanyl or other opioids, help is available. At Sunshine Rehab and Detox Center, we offer numerous treatment options to treat patients with a holistic approach that balances your medical, psychological, and social-emotional needs. Our inpatient treatment provides 24-hour care and support so that you can receive the tools you need to prevent relapse and stay sober.
Additionally, our mental health treatment services provide an added layer of support and can help identify the underlying cause of your addiction. We can also work with your insurance plan so that, potentially, some or all of your rehab costs are covered.
You will always be treated with respect and kindness as we collaborate with you to develop a treatment program with your passions and talents in mind. Taking an individualized approach in a small, personal environment means that you will always be seen for who you are.
