Fentanyl is one of the most potent drugs commonly abused by substance users. In most cases, drug sellers mix fentanyl into heroin alongside other substances such as alfentanil. Users also purchase this drug in counterfeit pills that resemble prescription painkillers like Xanax. Using fentanyl or heroin mixed with the drug can lead to addiction, an overdose, and sometimes death. In this post, we answer the question “What is Fentanyl?” and look at how Wellness Counseling Vida Entera can help you get on the path to recovery.
If you or a loved one struggles with substance abuse, find help with fentanyl and heroin detox programs in California.
What Is Fentanyl?
Heroin laced with fentanyl is one of the substances associated with drug overdoses in the United States. So, what is fentanyl, and what are the aspects that make this drug dangerous? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It is also a prescription drug used in the treatment and management of pain after surgery.
Physicians mainly administer prescription fentanyl in the form of tablets, injections, or a transdermal patch. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl is dangerous as it does not abide by pharmaceutical control laws. The primary technique used to sell illegal fentanyl is placing it in eye droppers, blotter papers, and nasal sprays.
In some cases, manufacturers also mix fentanyl with other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Unfortunately, this increases the risks associated with drug use, especially to users who may not know that the pills they use contain fentanyl.
Users of fentanyl mainly take the drug by swallowing, injecting, or snorting. This substance functions by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, which stimulates the production of a hormone referred to as dopamine. This hormone activates the reward area of the brain, hence producing a feeling of relaxation and elation.
What Makes Fentanyl Dangerous?
The part of the brain that has opioid receptors also controls the breathing rate of a person. Hence, a high dose of fentanyl can lead to shallow breathing or complete cessation of breath. Failure to access medical help after overdosing on this substance may result in death. Using fentanyl may also cause adverse effects like nausea, respiratory arrest, and coma. One may also feel confused, drowsy, constipated, and sedated.
Since a large percentage of fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, one can get addicted to multiple substances. Hence, one may experience withdrawal symptoms when they cannot access the drug. Some of the most common fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, high blood pressure, muscle pain, and stomach cramps. One may also experience mood swings, insomnia, agitation, diarrhea, and depression.
The Signs of Fentanyl Abuse
Answering the question ‘What is fentanyl?’ can help a person identify signs that indicate one is using the drug. For instance, addiction to prescription fentanyl may influence one to use the drug without following the doctor’s guidelines. Furthermore, a person may take a higher dosage of the drug or use it more frequently than prescribed.
People who use illegal fentanyl also tend to hide the drug and lie about using it. They may show withdrawal symptoms when they are not under the influence of the substance. Some users can also use fentanyl to cover for the signs of mental illnesses such as depression. Since a fentanyl addiction can be fatal, it is recommendable that a person seeks addiction treatment.
There is a wide variety of treatment plans that can help one detox and recover from fentanyl addiction. Some of these programs are:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Residential treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
Detoxing and enrolling for addiction treatment can help you live a substance-free life. At Wellness Counseling Vida Entera, we provide intensive programs to help clients recover from addiction. Our medical professionals and therapists can help answer the question, ‘What is fentanyl?’. Moreover, we educate you and your loved one on how to avoid drug abuse triggers.
Contact us for more information about commonly abused substances. Call Wellness Counseling Vida Entera at 951.400.0082 to seek help for fentanyl addiction.
