Fentanyl Abuse

This form of fentanyl is available as a lozenge on a plastic stick to be administered under the tongue like a lollipop. It has some military applications but is generally used to manage breakthrough pains in patients already on pain-relieving medications.

This fentanyl patch was first introduced in the 1990s to treat moderate to severe pain. The effects of this patch generally last for three days.

This is the injectable form of fentanyl that is generally administered in hospitals, sometimes along with anesthetics, to manage pain before and after surgery.

This is a sublingual spray that is typically administered under the tongue to provide immediate pain relief. Subsys is primarily used to treat breakthrough cancer pains.

This is the quick-dissolve version of fentanyl that is typically placed under the tongue to provide immediate relief for opioid-tolerant patients with breakthrough cancer pains.

This is a fentanyl nasal spray that is administered just like a common nasal decongestant spray to treat pain in cancer patients.

Fentanyl, which falls under the category of synthetic opioids, is extremely addictive and at least fifty to a hundred times stronger than morphine.

Some of the street names of fentanyl may include China Girl, China White, Apache, Friend, Dance fever, Goodfella, TNT, Tango and Cash, Murder 8, Jackpot, Drop dead, and Percopop.

Continued consumption of fentanyl can cause significant complications that affect all areas of an individual’s life. It could lead to slow respiration, damage to the lungs, heart, and other organs. Sharing needles during drug use could also lead to the transmission of infectious diseases. Misuse of fentanyl could lead to anxiety disorders and depression and trigger the symptoms of underlying mental illnesses.

Fatal overdoses due to fentanyl typically result from respiratory collapse, but other harmful or fatal adverse effects, including brain injury that is attributable to oxygen depletion, heart attack, or organ failure, can be caused by the drug’s tendency to depress central nervous system function.

Failing to cut down on fentanyl despite the desire to stop, experiencing cravings and withdrawals, neglecting obligations and responsibilities in favor of fentanyl use, and continued use of the drug despite the damaging physical and psychological effects are a few of the signs of fentanyl addiction.

Some of the side effects of fentanyl use are constipation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, sweating, insomnia, fatigue, drowsiness, feeling cold, headache, mood swings, changes in appetite, depression, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, muscle spasms, tremors, and slowed heart reaction.

Combining fentanyl with any other CNS depressants, especially narcotics, is highly dangerous. CNS depressants such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, and marijuana amplify the effects of other drugs, placing the person at a higher risk of an overdose. Mixing the drug with opioids particularly raises the risk of respiratory depression, which limits the amount of oxygen reaching the brain; the person can also stop breathing altogether and eventually die.

Fentanyl withdrawal can be particularly distressing due to its severity. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include chills, joint or muscle pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, hypertension, muscle weakness, and rapid heart rate.

Given the severity and risks associated with opioid dependence, certain medications have been developed to treat drug-related addiction disorders such as fentanyl directly. These medication-assisted treatments work best in conjunction with standard addiction rehabilitation programs, support group involvement, therapy, and ongoing aftercare.

There are a number of support groups across the United States that help people struggling with narcotics addiction to remain sober and healthy. The most well-known self-help groups are those affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA), all of which are based on the 12-step model. Support groups for family members of people with addictions, like Al-anon or Alateen, can also be helpful.

The most common relapse prevention techniques used for all types of addictions are a healthier diet, exercise, and a support network that comprises of ongoing therapy and support group attendance. However, people struggling with narcotics addiction, especially to potent drugs such as fentanyl, may require the assistance of medications to overcome withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapses.