Fentanyl
Just the Facts, not the Fiction
Introduction
The primary reason I am writing this blog article is that I have been hearing misinformation about the drug Fentanyl in the recovery community, on social media, and in non-sobriety podcasts. That being said, the information I present here is based on research from 2023 and 2024. This information may need to be updated in a few years or months. I will do my best to stay on top of the data, but I encourage you to also do your own research.
What is Fentanyl?
Pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl is a legitimate medication. In medical settings, fentanyl is used during some surgical procedures. It is a synthetic opioid and is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. It is sometimes prescribed as a treatment for chronic pain patients who have a high tolerance for opioids. In medical settings, fentanyl comes in several forms. These forms include liquid, tablets, lozenges, and skin patches. In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®.
The effects of fentanyl can be felt for several hours. Effects may be more prolonged when fentanyl skin patches are used since they slowly release the drug over time. Someone who recently used fentanyl may test positive on a urine drug test for several days after consuming the drug. Patients prescribed fentanyl should be monitored for potential misuse or abuse. Many individuals who are prescribed fentanyl are also prescribed Narcan for accidental drug overdose.
Illicit Fentanyl
The fentanyl most often associated with drug overdose is more likely that which is manufactured in foreign labs and smuggled into the U. S. through Mexico. This synthetic fentanyl is often sold illegally as a powder or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids. Drug dealers often sell Fentanyl as fake Oxycodone. Some drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option than other drugs. Recent reports show that drug users are now seeking out fentanyl, and smoking fentanyl is growing increasingly popular.
The side effects of Fentanyl (and other opioids) may include;
· Pain relief
· Sedation
· Euphoria
· Extreme happiness
· Confusion
· Dizziness
· Drowsiness
· Nausea and vomiting
· Urinary retention and constipation
· Problems breathing
· Unconsciousness
· Hypoxia – lack of oxygen or inadequate oxygen supply, which can result in stroke, brain injury, or death
Addiction and Withdrawal
Fentanyl can be addictive. Like hydrocodone, morphine, or other opioids, fentanyl works by binding to the body’s opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors control pain and emotions. After repeat usage of opioids, the brain adapts to the drug (tolerance), which diminishes its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. You can become mentally and physically dependent on fentanyl.
People addicted to fentanyl who stop using it can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include:
muscle and bone pain
sleep problems
diarrhea and vomiting
cold flashes with goosebumps
uncontrollable leg movements
severe cravings
“The Potency of Fentanyl can be 50-100 times more potent than Morphine”
Overdose
When people overdose on fentanyl, their breathing can slow or stop. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma, permanent brain damage, and even death.
Symptoms of an Overdose
· stupor
· changes in pupillary size
· cold and clammy skin
· Cyanosis - blue discoloration of the skin
· respiratory failure (leading to death)
· coma
To combat overdose
Immediately call 911 and administer Narcan or Naloxone, which can reverse overdose symptoms in as little as 2 to 3 minutes. Naloxone is safe to use, even if the symptoms are not a result of opioid overdose. Give a second dose if the patient has not responded after 3 minutes. Stay with the person until help arrives.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States. A comparison between the 12 months ending January 31, 2020, and the 12 months ending January 31, 2021, demonstrated that overdose deaths involving opioids rose 38.1 percent. Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) rose 55.6 percent and appear to be the primary driver of the increase in total drug overdose deaths.
Recent drug seizures
The Fentanyl drug abuse problem is continuing to escalate. By 2014, it was becoming evident that Fentanyl was infiltrating the illicit drug market in the United States. In 2023, DEA seized more than 79.5 million fentanyl-laced pills and 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. These seizures are equivalent to more than 376.7 million doses of fentanyl.
Reality Check/Word of Warning for Parents.
Don’t try and use logic to understand why drug manufacturers would lace their drugs with fentanyl when so many of their clients may die. They know that there will always be more clients to buy their drugs. Also, don’t be a naïve parent and think your child is too well-behaved, intelligent, or logical that they would never be tempted to experiment or use illicit drugs.
The percentage of adolescents reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 was
- 10.9% of eighth graders,
- 19.8 % of 10th graders and
- 31% of 12th graders,
according to the—National Institute of Drug Abuse.
In 2022 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMSHA), reported that in 2022;
- 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3% of the population) had a substance use disorder (SUD)
- 2.2 million (or 8.7%) of adolescents aged 12-17 had a S.U.D.
- 9.7 million (or 27.8%) of adults aged 18-25 had a S.U.D.
Fentanyl test strips
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are now available and are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reduce harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in different types of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables). Look for organizations in your city or state that distribute FTS.
In Closing
Remember that Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid; it is essential to speak openly with your children and loved ones about the dangers of Fentanyl and other opioids. I encourage you to seek additional information and understand that unless a drug is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you can't know if it’s fake or legitimate.
There is no way to see the amount of fentanyl in an individual pill or how much may have been added to another drug. Lastly, please get your own Narcan/Naloxone Overdose Kit, read the previous blog article on Narcan, and share these two posts with your family and friends.
Please share this with anyone you feel it can help, and take a few minutes to check out some of the other blog entries.
Resources
https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2023/12/reported-drug-use-among-adolescents-continued-to-hold-below-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2023#:~:text=The%20percentage%20of%20adolescents%20reporting,to%20the%20latest%20results%20from
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-main-highlights.pdf
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/fentanyl-test-strips.html
https://nextdistro.org/naloxone#state-finder
https://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse/save-a-life
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone
https://drugpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023.04.05_fentanyl_factsheet.pdf