Fentanyl Abuse & Addiction | Short-Term & Long-Term Effects
Misuse of opioids, like Fentanyl, is an increasing concern in the United States and across the globe. Sometimes referred to as the “opioid epidemic“, addiction to opioid pain medications has hit alarming rates across the U.S. Each year, more than 2 million Americans, and 15 million individuals worldwide, struggle with the misuse of prescription opioids and heroin.
Drug overdoses in particular have become the leading cause of death in the U.S. in adults under the age of 50 years, with opioids like fentanyl accounting for more than half of all drug overdose deaths.
With more than 92,00 Americans dying from drug overdoses in 2020, what exactly are opioids and what is fentanyl? What are the risks of fentanyl abuse and addiction? What are the short and long-term effects?
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is a powerful synthetic opioid, similar to morphine but with a potency of approximately 50 to 100 times more than morphine. Fentanyl, like morphine, is used to treat patients with chronic pain or severe pain, especially after surgery. Fentanyl is available as a prescription under the brand names: Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze and can be administered as a shot, fentanyl patch on the arm, or a throat lozenge.
Because fentanyl is such a potent opioid, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guide for Chronic Pain recommends providers prescribe the lowest effective dosage of opioids, and only prescribe the minimum amount necessary.
Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are currently the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in America. This has been on the rise for over a decade with 59% of opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl in 2017, compared to 14.3% in 2010 (NIDA). Many of these fentanyl overdoses and lethal outcomes are attributed to illicit fentanyl use. Illicit fentanyl can be manufactured for use in the illegal drug market and may be found synthetically as a powder, pill, eyedrop, or nasal spray.
Although healthcare professionals may consider prescription fentanyl to be safe and effective when used in a monitored medical setting, fentanyl has the potential for misuse and abuse even when taken appropriately.
Short-Term Effects Of Fentanyl
Because of its potency, the short-term side effects of fentanyl may be experienced very soon after someone takes the drug. Those who inject fentanyl may experience these effects even faster than other methods. Some people use fentanyl to treat their chronic pain, but when using illicit fentanyl it may give them a feeling of euphoric pleasure and a deep feeling of relaxation.
When someone uses fentanyl in these methods, they may experience short-term side effects such as the following:
- Sedation
- Pain relief
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased Happiness
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Overdose
However, fentanyl affects people differently based on a number of factors including height, age, weight, and health. Overdose is one of the more serious effects due to the small amount of fentanyl that can cause an overdose.
Begin Recovery
Long-Term Effects Of Fentanyl
Physical Effects of Fentanyl
Potential adverse effects of long-term opioid use are varied and long-term fentanyl abuse can have an impact on the entire body.
The impact can range from the brain to the organs, and even result in tissue damage (such as limb loss). When someone experiences long-term fentanyl abuse, the entire body is at risk of damage.
Continued use of fentanyl can lead to physical dependence and an opioid abuse disorder. Some of the long-term effects of fentanyl use may include:
- Opioid Use Disorder (Addiction)
- Dependence
- Liver and/or kidney damage or failure
- Respiratory changes (hypoxia)
Extended or long-term fentanyl use depresses the respiratory system which affects the amount of oxygen being distributed throughout the body over time. The lack of oxygen being distributed throughout the body is referred to as hypoxia. Hypoxia can cause irreversible damage to tissue in the body, resulting in brain damage and damage to the liver, digestive and respiratory systems.
Mental Health Effects of Fentanyl
Long-term fentanyl use has also been linked to impaired mental function, the development of mental health issues, and exacerbating existing mental health issues. The impact of this includes the following:
- increased levels of depression
- anxiety
- lower ability to feel pleasure
- inability to regulate emotion
- Brain changes
In addition to the effects fentanyl use has on mental health, fentanyl use may affect memory and cognition. Scans in a 2018 study revealed lesioning and brain damage in patients who struggled with fentanyl abuse. As a result, those patients were reported to have experienced cognitive issues similar to amnesia.
How Does Fentanyl Affect The Brain?
Long-term fentanyl use has also been linked to impaired mental function, the development of mental health issues, and exacerbating existing mental health issues. The impact of this includes the following:
- increased levels of depression
- anxiety
- lower ability to feel pleasure
- inability to regulate emotion
- Brain changes
In addition to the effects fentanyl use has on mental health, fentanyl use may affect memory and cognition. Scans in a 2018 study revealed lesioning and brain damage in patients who struggled with fentanyl abuse. As a result, those patients were reported to have experienced cognitive issues similar to amnesia.
Can You Reverse The Effects?
Individuals who take fentanyl regularly think they’re ingesting something else, such as a stimulant (cocaine or MDMA) or heroin.
People who ingest fentanyl often believe they are taking something else, such as ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. It makes it difficult to identify the cause of an overdose when they don’t know what drugs were taken.
Naloxone (or Narcan) can be used to reverse an opioid overdose if given within minutes of the person overdosing. Naloxone works by interacting with opioid receptors located in the brain to prevent the effects of fentanyl. Fentanyl is stronger than most opioids though. More than one shot of naloxone may be needed to reverse their effects.
If you believe that you or someone has overdosed on fentanyl or another drug call 911 immediately. This is a medical emergency.
Fentanyl Withdrawal And Detox
A medically supervised withdrawal treatment program, also called inpatient detoxification, may be necessary for some patients who are moderate to severely dependent on opioids such as fentanyl. Withdrawal from opioids includes extreme cravings, and these feelings may cause someone to relapse if they attempt to reduce their withdrawal symptoms.
Residential medical detox programs provide 24-hour supervision and medical support that can be crucial to reducing the risk of relapsing and improving success during this period.
Identifying Signs of Potential Fentanyl Use
It might be difficult to identify signs of drug or fentanyl use because many of these signs may resemble normal “moodiness” or signs of anxiety. Possible signs to look out for if you or a loved one is using substances such as fentanyl include:
- Struggling in one’s personal life – especially school or work (i.e. a drop in grades or work performance)
- Issues with physical health (i.e. sudden weight loss or gain, lack of energy)
- Neglecting one’s appearance
- Sudden changes in behavior (i.e. engaging in more secretive behavior or drastic changes in relationships with family and friends)
- Financial troubles (i.e. sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation, missing money, or disappearing items from your home)
It is important to note that the signs of drug use may vary depending on the type of substance being used.
Riverside Recovery of Tampa’s Treatment Programs for Opioid Use Disorder
Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous and powerful opioid. In order to address fentanyl abuse or addiction, a comprehensive treatment program is needed. Whether addiction has arisen due to prescribed use or illicit use, treatment is available.
Riverside Recovery of Tampa provides a full continuum of care in a safe, medically-monitored environment. Our experienced clinical and medical teams are available to provide the individualized, tailored care needed to heal from fentanyl addiction in the perfect environment, on the river.
Contact our admissions team today to learn more about our medical detox and recovery programs for opioid addiction.