As recently as 2018, two-thirds of drug-related deaths can be attributed to synthetic opioids, with fentanyl being the primary culprit. It’s important to learn what is fentanyl and why it is so dangerous so that you can steer clear of dabbling with this powerful drug.
What Is Fentanyl?
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s 80–100 times stronger than morphine. Its main purpose is managing pain in people who are in chronic, debilitating agony. Tablets are the most common form of fentanyl, with other versions coming as patches, sprays, or injectable solutions. Sadly, despite its medical purposes, fentanyl is destroying lives all over the world due to its extremely addictive nature.
How Does Fentanyl Makes You Feel?
To gain perspective on why fentanyl is such a problem, it’s important to know how fentanyl makes you feel. Fentanyl causes a feeling of deep relaxation and even outright euphoria, so people often illicitly seek out the drug as an escape from the physical or mental pain they’re experiencing. However, once those few moments of jubilation wear off, they can then experience nausea, vomiting, and other life-threatening side effects.
Why Is Fentanyl Dangerous?
Fentanyl is more potent and addictive than any other opioid available, and it more quickly. Medical patients who require fentanyl may develop addictions once they’re released from their doctors’ care. Another common occurrence is mixing fentanyl with other highly addictive opioids such as heroin. People who buy heroin may be unaware that it’s laced with fentanyl, which has caused an inordinate number of accidental overdoses.
Through constant use of fentanyl, a user will eventually develop a high tolerance for it, making it impossible for them to feel the same high at the same dosage. For that reason, fentanyl overdoses are common; people’s bodies often can’t handle the increased amount. Therefore, it’s important to know what to do if one of your loved ones falls victim to an accidental overdose.
Treatment
By learning what fentanyl is and why it is so dangerous, you can know the scary road it can lead you down. Suffering from fentanyl withdrawal is an excruciating experience for anyone to encounter. However, it’s critical to become vigilant if you are fighting a drug problem. Don’t try to quit cold-turkey—kicking the habit that quickly will be impossible. Take it slowly, and get someone—whether it’s a trusted loved one or a sponsor—to help you fight the addiction. Having a support system is always a solid foundation for anyone to overcome their demons.
