Fentanyl is an extremely potent and addictive opioid that leads to overdoses and deaths. Overdose is common with fentanyl abuse because users build a high level of tolerance in a very short time. Medical professionals use fentanyl in a safe environment for pain management, but many people who are addicted to painkillers also use this drug.
Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine, and easily leads to dependence and addiction faster than other drugs. The smallest amount of fentanyl can be deadly. Many people overdose on fentanyl because they use more of it to experience the same level of euphoria as the first time. The user takes higher doses of fentanyl, but the body cannot process the high amount fast enough, causing an unintentional overdose.
Sometimes people mix fentanyl with other drugs or alcohol. Fentanyl is a deadly drug and a person increases the risk of overdose or death when combining it with other drugs or alcohol. Some signs and symptoms of fentanyl overdose include:
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Slow breathing and heartbeat
- Severe drowsiness
- Inability to talk
- Feeling faint or dizzy
Opioid-dependent individuals use fentanyl as a replacement for heroin. Fentanyl-related death happens so quickly that people are often found with a syringe still in the site of injection.
Healthcare professionals can prescribe fentanyl for pain management and the directions for use must be followed exactly as directed to prevent overdose or death. Fentanyl skin patches are prescribed at a low dose and used for chronic pain that cannot be controlled with other painkillers.
If a person overdoses on fentanyl, he or she should be treated immediately with naloxone, which is a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Multiple doses of naloxone may be needed to revive a person due to fentanyl’s high potency. People who become dependent on or addicted to fentanyl need to seek treatment to prevent overdose or death.
If you or a loved one is battling an opioid addiction, you are not alone. Recovery from addiction is possible with the right treatment. Cypress Lakes Lodge specializes in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, and encompasses healing for the mind, body, and spirit. The staff at Cypress Lakes Lodge is compassionate and committed to the overall health of every client. Do not wait another day. Call now and take back your life. Embrace the opportunity to enjoy living substance-free.
Cypress Lakes Lodge specializes in addiction treatment and is located in a serene, remote, lush-green, oxygen enriched environment. The program encompasses holistic addiction therapy and offers yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and soul. The focus is on physical, mental, and emotional well-being by generating the balance of life-enriching treatment, wellness, and healthy, sober, sustainable relationships. Call us to get started: 877-938-1577