Fentanyl is an opioid, which puts it in the same class of drugs as morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. Prescription fentanyl treats severe, post-surgical pain. It is also prescribed for patients who cannot be treated with other prescription opioids. Fentanyl has also been in the news recently as the subject of several overdose stories. Most likely, the overdose victims had taken street fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic (laboratory-made) opioid that is similar to morphine. It is between 50 and 100 times more potent than morphine.
Although fentanyl is available by prescription and can be used under a doctor’s direction, it is also a street drug. In its prescription form, pharmacists dispensed it under the brand names Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®. Doctor-prescribed fentanyl can be used as follows:
Street fentanyl is made in laboratories. It is sold illegally in the following forms:
Some drug dealers will mix fentanyl with other drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA. It takes very little substance to produce a high with fentanyl, which makes it a cheap option.
Street drug consumers may not realize that they may be buying fentanyl and other substances as well. These users could be taking more potent opioids than what they were expecting to purchase and are putting themselves at higher risk for an overdose.
Similarly to heroin, morphine, and other opioids, fentanyl binds to the brain’s opioid receptors. These specialized receptors are situated in the areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. After repeated exposure to opioids, the brain adapts to the drug’s presence. As a result, the person finds it challenging to feel pleasure from anything other than using opioids. When someone becomes addicted to fentanyl, drug seeking and drug use become the main focus of their life.
Fentanyl’s effects include:
Fentanyl is addictive due to its potency. Someone taking fentanyl as prescribed by their physician could potentially develop a physical dependence on the drug. It means that if they try to stop taking their prescription, they experience withdrawal symptoms and must be weaned off their medication slowly. Someone can be physically dependent on medication without becoming addicted. However, physical dependence can also lead to addiction.
Taking opioids feels pleasurable. When someone is taking opioids for a reason other than pain management, they are starting on the road toward an addiction. The good feelings the brain produces as a result of taking fentanyl don’t last very long. The user wants to repeat the sensation, so they feel the urge to use fentanyl repeatedly. When taking the drug becomes something they can’t do without, the person is living with a full-blown addiction.
Addiction is a substance use disorder (SUD) in its most severe form. SUDs are characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use that is challenging to control, even when the person knows there are harmful consequences. A person who is living with a fentanyl addiction will continue to use it even if it is proving detrimental to their health, causing issues at work, school, or home. The person’s priorities shift to obtaining and using the drug above anything else in their life.
A drug overdose occurs when the substance produces severe adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. When a person overdoses on fentanyl, their breathing may slow down or stop altogether. Oxygen levels to the brain decrease, creating hypoxia. Without immediate medical attention, hypoxia can lead to a coma (and possibly permanent brain damage). Hypoxia may even be fatal in some instances.
A person who is overdosing on fentanyl becomes very sleepy, and it is difficult to get them to wake up. Their body may become limp. Their face may become pale, and their skin may feel clammy. Their pulse may feel weak and slow. Their lips and fingertips may appear blue or purple (lighter complexioned people). The inside of the lips may turn blue or purple in darker-complexioned people.
Their breathing slows down and becomes shallow. The person may start to snore and then lose consciousness completely.
The medical team at Willingway has experience working with clients who have used combinations of almost all types of drugs. They are dedicated to helping clients who come into treatment break free from the influence of chemicals. The medical team can administer medications to treat the symptoms associated with fentanyl withdrawal, allowing for a slow taper of the drug to minimize cravings.
Clients being admitted to Willingway for fentanyl addiction treatment receive a complete clinical and medical assessment to determine their level of substance use and clinical needs. We assign a counselor to each client after admission. That counselor works directly with the client (and their family) throughout their stay with us.
Based on the client’s family history and the information gathered during the assessment, an individualized fentanyl addiction treatment plan for helping the client achieve sobriety is developed. The plan is reviewed weekly by the interdisciplinary treatment team.
Clients are encouraged to learn (or relearn) how to use leisure time, meditation, and recreation to maintain a healthy lifestyle in recovery. Willingway has an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub, and an exercise room. We also offer yoga classes and other recreational activities on-site.
Some off-site recreational activities may be scheduled for clients. These include outings to go bowling, go to the movies, visit the Mann Center, and enjoy other recreational activities in the area.
Each client knows that they need to plan for their time after fentanyl addiction treatment at Willingway ends. Discharge planning begins shortly after clients arrive at Willingway. The counselor works with the client and their family to determine which services will be needed to maximize the client’s successful long-term recovery. Willingway will provide appropriate discharge recommendations based on those discharge recommendations.
Clients who require extended treatment to improve their chance for lasting recovery will be referred to an outpatient program where they can continue to receive help and support.
