Although there are a handful of synthetic opioids even more potent than fentanyl, it is fentanyl that poses such an enormous risk to drug users because it is the most dangerously addictive and powerful opioid that is widely available. Its ease of access and the fact that it often hides as an additive in other drugs is what has put it on the radar of the US government seeking to slow down fentanyl-related deaths. Some people are addicted to drugs like heroin and do not realize they have been exposed to fentanyl and are now addicted to it as well. If you have been using fentanyl or suspect that you have acquired it unwittingly in other drugs, reach out to Evoke Wellness for fentanyl addiction treatment in Ohio.
Fentanyl’s side effects can be deadly. Well over 50% of drug overdose deaths in the US are related to fentanyl. There is no middle ground when dealing with an opioid of this strength and accessibility. Please contact Evoke Wellness today to speak to one of our staff. We can answer your questions and steer you in the direction of recovery, health, and well-being. Call 866.430.9267 or use our online form today.
Is Fentanyl Addictive?
Fentanyl was created in a lab as a potent painkiller for use in medical settings and for severe pain. As with other pain medications in the opioid family, it soon became abused, and black-market opioid synthesizers began producing it and putting it on the street market. It is highly addictive and very dangerous. Some of its most notable characteristics are:
- It is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. That means a quantity of fentanyl that is 1/50th the amount of heroin will result in the same effect. That may be just a few grains.
- Fentanyl that is manufactured illegally has no label saying it’s fentanyl, and it has no dosage instructions. It can be passed off as heroin, or it can lace any drug from cannabis to cocaine to any number of other opioids.
- Only two milligrams of fentanyl can result in instant overdose or even death.
- Fentanyl has a range of delivery systems, making it very easy to take. It is manufactured, both legally and illicitly, as a powder, pill, lozenge, liquid, or patch so it can be injected, ingested, smoked, or taken sublingually or sprayed into the nose. It is easily aerosolized, meaning it cannot be detected, and people, including children and other bystanders, can be exposed accidentally.
- The drug can be absorbed through the skin. Just .25 milligrams can enter the bloodstream through touch.
Fentanyl’s potency and ease of use make it exceptionally addictive. Consider an opioid rehab treatment center like Evoke Wellness. We are here to help. Call 866.430.9267 today.
Fentanyl Side Effects
If you are wondering if someone you care about is abusing fentanyl, consider the warning signs and side effects of this powerful opioid that may give you insight into what is happening.
The risk of serious side effects is greater:
- When taking it for the first time (or when there is a low tolerance to opioids)
- When the user increases the dosage
- If there is a pre-existing pulmonary condition such as asthma
- If the user has liver damage
- For older people
As mentioned, even a single exposure to fentanyl can result in adverse side effects. Fentanyl side effects include:
- Sleepiness
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Rigid muscles
- Sedation and loss of consciousness
- Reduced respiration
- Seizures
- Overdose
- Death
Is fentanyl addictive? Yes. Is it dangerous to your health and life? Yes. Is there help available if you have developed a tolerance or addiction to fentanyl? Yes. You just need to take the first step.
Reach Out to Evoke Wellness Ohio Today for Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Columbus
Our evidence-based fentanyl addiction treatment program in Ohio is effective and offered in a safe, comfortable, trigger-free setting. From medically supervised detox all the way through discharge and our after-care program, we take your recovery very seriously. Contact us with questions or to get started on your next chapter. Just submit this easy online form or dial 866.430.9267.
