What Does Fentanyl Do To You? Abuse, Side Effects & Treatment

Pain can be managed effectively with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. It produces its effects by interacting with the body’s opioid receptors, which results in a profound sense of euphoria and decreased pain sensitivity. Fentanyl, while useful for managing pain under medical supervision, is also highly addictive and dangerous, with the potential to cause overdose and death.

Fentanyl What Does it Do?

Fentanyl abuse is a growing public health crisis because many people become dependent on the drug after receiving a prescription to treat pain. This article will examine the effects of fentanyl, including the potential for abuse and addiction, as well as the treatment options that are currently available.

What Does Fentanyl Do to Your Body?

Prolonged utilization and misuse of fentanyl may result in physiological reliance, substance addiction, and lethal overdose. The consumption of Fentanyl in excessive amounts may lead to respiratory insufficiency, unconsciousness, and fatality. Fentanyl is categorized as a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States owing to its high potency and addictive properties. Consequently, stringent regulations govern its production, distribution, and utilization.

What does fentanyl do to the body? It is imperative to seek professional assistance if an individual or acquaintance grapples with fentanyl addiction. The available treatment modalities for fentanyl addiction comprise medication-assisted therapy, behavioral therapy, support groups, and inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs.

What Does Fentanyl Do to the Brain?

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that attaches to receptors in the brain and body, modifying the transmission of pain signals. The substance exhibits a high potency and expeditiously elicits a spectrum of neurological responses, such as intense pleasure, tranquilization, and calmness. The aforementioned outcomes are attributed to escalated dopamine discharge in the brain’s reward circuitry, which strengthens the drug’s consumption.

Fentanyl What Does It Do?

Synthetic opioid fentanyl is commonly used to treat severe pain but is also abused for its intense intoxicating effects. Small amounts of fentanyl can cause respiratory depression and overdose because it is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Abuse of fentanyl can have devastating and even fatal consequences.

• Euphoria: Fentanyl can create feelings of intense pleasure and well-being.
• Respiratory depression: Fentanyl can slow breathing, leading to respiratory failure and death.
• Sedation: Fentanyl can cause drowsiness and sedation.
• Nausea and vomiting: Fentanyl can cause stomach upset and vomiting.
• Constipation: Fentanyl can cause constipation, which can be severe.
• Confusion: Fentanyl can cause confusion and disorientation.
• Itchiness: Fentanyl can cause itching, which can be severe.
• Tolerance: Fentanyl can lead to the development of tolerance, meaning that higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects.
• Dependence: Fentanyl can lead to physical and psychological dependence, making it difficult to stop using the drug.
• Overdose: Fentanyl overdose can be deadly, leading to respiratory failure and death.

Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics

Prescription drug abuse is a growing public health problem affecting millions of Americans yearly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 18 million people in the United States misused prescription medications in 2019. This includes opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and other prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse can lead to dependence, addiction, overdose, and even death. Understanding the scope of the problem can help policymakers, healthcare providers, and individuals take steps to prevent and address prescription drug abuse.

70%

Approximately 70% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2019 involved prescription or illicit opioids.

Source: CDC

4.6 million

In 2020, more than 4.6 million Americans misused prescription stimulants.

Source: DEA

What Does Fentanyl Do to a Person?

• Pain relief: Fentanyl is a potent pain medication that can quickly and effectively relieve severe pain.
• Euphoria: Fentanyl can cause intense feelings of pleasure and euphoria, which can lead to addiction.
• Respiratory depression: Fentanyl can cause slow and shallow breathing, which can be life-threatening in high doses.

What does Fentanyl Do to Your Heart?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that has the potential to cause serious heart problems. Various cardiac side effects are possible, including slow heart rate, low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeats. When taken in large doses or in conjunction with other drugs, fentanyl can potentially cause heart failure or cardiac arrest. When fentanyl is abused, injected, or mixed with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines, the risk of these effects increases. Heart and other organ damage, addiction, and dependence are all possible outcomes of chronic fentanyl use. Fentanyl should only be used when prescribed by a doctor, and prompt medical attention should be sought if adverse effects occur.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• 12-Step Groups
• Group Therapy

• Alumni Support Program
• Stabilization
• Holistic Therapy

Our treatment tailors the program to the individual and the individual to the program of recovery. We begin by assessing our client’s history of mental health, drugs, and substance abuse-related past. The needs of each individual are specific and personalized because we aim to provide comprehensive support for mental health, addiction, and dual diagnosis treatment. Our supportive environment is designed accordingly to give clients 24-hour care for sobriety. Most importantly, we hope to have our clients live comfortably within the facility during this crucial and fragile time.

Now that you’ve answered the question “what is fentanyl?” it is crucial to seek help to avoid overdose. At We Level Up NJ, we prioritize removing the stigma and temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline. , We find that when clients live in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.