The Rise of Opioids
Seeking treatment options for substance abuse or mental health concerns can feel scary for many. Asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do! At Centered Recovery, we understand the stress that often surrounds seeking support. If you’ve come upon this blog, you or a loved one may be struggling with the use of Fentanyl. Our team wants to meet you where you are and support you on your journey to recovery! For the next few minutes, we’ll discuss the nature of Fentanyl use and what you can do to reach out for support!
The Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic within the United States is a massive public health crisis. The crisis involves the misuse of opioids, which has created large concern surrounding the rise in addictions, overdoses, and deaths. This epidemic is not new and started in the 1990s when many doctors began prescribing opioid painkillers. Doctors prescribed medications like OxyContin thinking they were not addictive drugs. However, these drugs were addictive, and so began the epidemic.
When people were no longer able to have access to these drugs because of restrictions, they turned to other drugs, such as heroin. Later in the epidemic, some began turning to powerful synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. This epidemic has had serious effects on many, causing too many deaths and economic costs. There have been efforts to fight the crisis, such as strict prescription regulations, increased access to treatment, and public education programs. Even with these factors in play, the opioid epidemic continues to disrupt many lives.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a very powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is significantly more potent. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine! When used correctly, it is prescribed for severe pain, often after a major surgery. A doctor typically prescribes it in the form of a shot, a patch on the skin, or lozenges that are swallowed. However, fentanyl is commonly misused and made illegally.
Illegal fentanyl is often sold in various forms. It is sold as a powder, in nasal sprays, in pill form, or dropped on blotter paper to look like small candies. It can also be made into pills that mimic the look of real prescription opioids.
Fentanyl, along with other synthetic opioids, is the most common drug that causes overdose deaths. Today, illegal fentanyl is being added to other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and heroin. This has become a serious issue because oftentimes people are not aware of the fact that fentanyl has been added.
In your brain, some areas specifically control pain and emotional responses. When fentanyl enters the body, it binds to the opioid receptors naturally found in those areas of your brain. It produces many effects, such as extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, etc.
Statistics of Fentanyl Use in the United States
- In 2021, more than 107,000 Americans lost their lives due to overdoses, with fentanyl being overwhelmingly responsible for many of these.
- Fentanyl is linked to around ⅔ of all fatal drug overdoses within the U.S.
- In 2022, fentanyl was responsible for around 200 deaths each day.
- Over a quarter of a million Americans have lost their lives due to fentanyl since 2018.
- In Georgia alone, drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased by 308% from 2019 to 2022.
- From 2019 to 2021, in Georgia, deaths involving fentanyl in adolescents increased 800%.
Understanding the Dangers of Fentanyl
A critical factor in understanding the dangers of fentanyl is its potency. Each drug has a lethal dose, but they are not all the same. As a comparison, the lethal dose of heroin is around 30 milligrams. The lethal dose of fentanyl is only 2 milligrams. 2 milligrams of fentanyl is only about the size of a couple of grains of salt. Because it takes so little to become fatal, the risk involved in using fentanyl is large. This can be particularly dangerous when fentanyl is used in addition to other substances.
It’s not uncommon for fentanyl to be laced with other substances. Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit prescription pills are often the substances used in lacing. When fentanyl is laced into these substances, the potency and addictive potential of them increase. When a substance becomes particularly addictive for someone, they are more likely to jump through hoops to get their hands on it. This often leads to a greater profit for dealers, as they can upcharge the drug because of how much the person wants it.
However, many users are unaware of the addition of fentanyl to the substance they are using. This has significantly increased the risk of overdose. If the amount is miscalculated, even in the slightest, the results can be fatal. Because it only takes a few grains of salt worth of fentanyl to become lethal, the spike in overdose deaths has grown exponentially.
Symptoms of Fentanyl Abuse
Physical Symptoms
- Slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Constricted pupils
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Shallow or labored breathing
Behavioral Symptoms
- Intense feelings of happiness or well-being
- Mood swings
- Ignoring responsibilities
- Social withdrawal
Signs of Overdose
- Very shallow breathing or no breathing at all
- Unresponsive or unable to wake up
- Clammy, cold skin
- Blue tint to lips or fingernails
- Faint or irregular heartbeat
How to Treat Fentanyl Overdose
If you suspect that someone is suffering from a fentanyl overdose, the first step is to immediately call 911. Time in this case is critical. After contacting emergency services, you’ll want to administer Naloxone or Narcan. Narcan is available as an injection or a nasal spray. Bystanders with little to no training are equipped enough to administer this life-saving drug.
If Narcan is being given by nasal spray, insert the tip into one nostril and spray until the entire dose has been given. If Narcan is being given via injection, you want to administer it into a muscle in the body. A good place is the thigh or upper arm.
In some cases, multiple doses may be needed to successfully save someone. With potent opioids such as fentanyl, it’s more likely multiple doses will need to be given. Every 2-3 minutes, administer Narcan until emergency services arrive.
In the event the person is not breathing, give 1 breath every 5-6 seconds after administering Narcan. If you find that there is no pulse, administer CPR until help arrives.
As you wait for emergency services to arrive, stay with the person. When the Narcan wears off, they may enter back into an overdose. Also, if the person is breathing, but not responsive, make sure they are in the recovery position. The recovery position is when a person is placed on their side to prevent potential choking.
For assistance on what this process would look like, many local health departments or pharmacies provide training on how to administer Narcan.
Centered Recovery Can Help
We know it can be daunting to ask for support with mental health or addiction issues. Our team at Centered Recovery understands that and is passionate about meeting you with care and understanding.
At Centered Recovery, we utilize holistic methods to improve mental, emotional, and physical functioning through the use of mindfulness-based recovery practices. Here, you will be exposed to various practices such as meditation, sound therapy, art therapy, breathwork, yoga, and more! These practices allow you to approach yourself with more compassion and understanding! Ultimately, this is a key component in the success of your recovery journey. At Centered, you will experience a structured, professionally led program that revolves around accountability and connection with others.
No one has ever felt relief by being overly critical of themselves as they go through a difficult season. Our holistic approach focuses on guiding you towards a more emotionally and mentally healthy space that is necessary for long-term healing. Our programs helps you to understand how your patterns of behavior are formed. Ultimately, this knowledge will lead you on the path to to effectively move past them.
Contact Centered Recovery Today
Centered Recovery Programs, located in the heart of Roswell, Georgia, is a mindfulness-based outpatient drug and alcohol rehab treatment program. When choosing the best drug and alcohol treatment program, keeping all these different aspects in mind is essential. Our staff will always tailor your treatment to your needs and goals for the future and we are well-equipped to help you overcome fentanyl addiction!
Whether you prefer to attend treatment in person or need virtual telehealth services, we can help! Centered Recovery has been providing meaningful, quality care to Georgia residents since 2017, and we have the most Google Reviews of any treatment provider in the state–all five stars!
If you have been considering drug rehab for fentanyl, or you have been struggling with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression issues and would like to understand the difference that a mindfulness-based program can make, please give us a call at 800-556-2966 to speak to one of our Admissions Team counselors today!
Written by Sydney Christiansen, Clinical Intern
