Pain is a part of life, at least for most people. A person who has Congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis (CIPA) cannot feel pain. The odds of being born with it are about 1 in 125 million, and it has its own complications.
Most people will feel pain at some point in their lives, and most will feel it multiple times over the course of a single day. The pain is normally fleeting and bearable. Some people may curse or massage the affected area, but the pain will pass.
But pain doesn’t pass or may not be bearable for some people. Some are unfortunate enough to experience both. So, pain becomes constant. There’s no end, and there isn’t even a reprieve.
Until they take an opioid. Opioid drugs are incredibly powerful and fast-acting pain relievers that can improve the lives of many people who suffer from pain, chronic or otherwise.
However, people can become dependent on them and develop opioid use disorder. This can be an incredibly difficult condition to live with and may require professional treatment to overcome and prevent overdose.
Luxe Recovery is a world-class treatment center located in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Los Angeles. In our treatment center, we offer industry-leading treatment for substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health disorders, and process addictions.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is incredibly potent. It’s far more potent than either morphine or heroin and is also very addictive. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration classifies fentanyl as a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it has a legitimate medical use but also a high potential for being misused.
In controlled settings under professional supervision, the drug can be administered in numerous ways, including fentanyl patches, lozenges, or injections.
Outside of these controlled settings, illicitly manufactured fentanyl has become a major public health concern due to its potency as well as the risk of fentanyl overdose.
Short-Term Effects of Fentanyl Use
Taking fentanyl can result in a number of short-term side effects. These side effects may include:
Pain Relief
Like other opioid drugs, fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain. This reduces the sensation of pain. Because of how potent fentanyl is, it is highly effective at relieving pain.
Euphoria
Some people who take fentanyl may experience a rush of euphoria. This rush of euphoria is why fentanyl has a high risk of drug abuse.
Drowsiness
Like many other medications that are used as sedatives, fentanyl can induce drowsiness in its users.
Respiratory Depression
Fentanyl, especially when taken in higher doses, can potentially slow down a user’s breathing. This has the potential to be life-threatening.
Constricted Pupils
Using fentanyl can cause a user’s pupils to get small, a condition that is known as miosis.
Long-term Effects of Fentanyl Use
The use of fentanyl can come with numerous long-term effects. Some of the effects of using fentanyl include:
Tolerance
A serious concern with taking any opioid medication long-term is the risk of the user developing a tolerance for it. This can cause a person to have to take higher amounts of fentanyl to achieve the same effects, whether it be getting high or relieving pain. This can increase the risk of an opioid overdose.
Dependence
Another worrying effect of fentanyl is that long-term use can lead to dependence, which is when the mind and body need it to continue functioning. This can also lead to withdrawal symptoms if a person ever stops taking fentanyl or other opioids.
Respiratory Issues
Because fentanyl can cause respiratory depression, long-term use can damage a person’s lungs and lead to persistent respiratory issues.
Cognitive Impairment
Another of fentanyl’s adverse effects is that it can impair a person’s cognitive functioning. This can affect memory, attention, and decision-making abilities.
Hormonal Imbalance
Opioids like fentanyl can disrupt a user’s endocrine system. This can lead to complications such as decreased libido and can affect a female user’s menstrual cycle and fertility.Opioids like fentanyl can disrupt a user’s endocrine system. This can lead to complications such as decreased libido and can affect a female user’s menstrual cycle and fertility.
Immune System Suppression
Long-term use of fentanyl affects the immune system, weakening it and making a person more susceptible to diseases.
Health Decline
The long-term misuse of fentanyl can lead to health complications such as malnutrition and subsequent weight loss, as well as a general decline in a person’s overall well-being.
Addiction
An effect of fentanyl use can be addiction, otherwise known as opioid use disorder. This is a condition that is characterized by an inability to control drug use as well as compulsive drug-seeking,
Why Do People Use Fentanyl?
One of the main reasons that people use prescription fentanyl is that it is a potent pain reliever. It can treat severe pain for those for whom other opioids are ineffective. It’s often prescribed for people undergoing cancer treatment or surgery.
For illegal fentanyl, however, the reasons for its use are because of the euphoria it induces. Its euphoric effects are pleasurable and can compel people to take the drug again and again. This can lead to dependence and addiction.
Some people may also take the drug inadvertently, as mixing fentanyl with other substances, such as cocaine or heroin, is not uncommon. Fentanyl is also relatively inexpensive, and its potency makes it so that a person only needs a small amount to get high.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
Treating fentanyl can help reverse the effects of the drug. A treatment program needs to be comprehensive to help people overcome addiction. Some of the ways that people can be helped include:
Detox
The first step in treating a person’s drug addiction is to help them detox. This can be a difficult process due to withdrawal symptoms, but having a medical team supervise can help address some symptoms.
Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab can be an incredibly potent tool in treating a person’s opioid addiction. While in a controlled environment, a patient won’t be able access to drugs other than what the team feels is medically necessary. While in residential care, a person will go through intensive treatment for their drug use.
Aftercare
Treating a person’s addiction does not end with inpatient care. Many treatment centers have aftercare programs to help support a patient’s sobriety once they return to the real world and are no longer in a controlled environment separate from their triggers.
Sober Living
Sober living programs can be effective in helping a person become ready to live a sober life. While in a sober living home, a person can practice living independently, and they will go through programs to help them get back on their feet. This can help them make a smooth transition back into their lives.
Outpatient Care
Another way to treat a person’s drug use is an outpatient program. This is when a person integrates their treatment into their day-to-day life. Patients will go to multiple therapy sessions per week, both individually and in groups. This program allows for flexible treatment for those whose addictions are mild to moderate.
Overcome Fentanyl Addiction with Us
People use opioids for several reasons. While there is currently an opioid epidemic plaguing the United States, one that’s been marked by thousands of overdoses, not all people who use opioids do so because they want to get high, even the ones who use illegal drugs like illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
It’s often the case that a person has to deal with pain and is prescribed an opioid, and they become dependent on it. It helps them with pain, allowing them to live their lives without hurting all the time.
But beyond the way they can relieve pain, opioids are addictive, and people who use them become dependent on them for more than pain relief. So when their prescription runs out, they have to turn to other drugs, and fentanyl is often one of them.
People who become addicted to opioids don’t aspire to end up in that position. It’s often the case that they had pain and no other means of dealing with that pain.
At Luxe Recovery, we can help people overcome their addiction and help address its underlying causes. We can help you or your loved one live a sober life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Retention Time of Fentanyl?
The drug has a half-life between 3 to 7 hours, with most of it being excreted through the urine.
What is the Most Serious Side Effect of Fentanyl?
The most serious of fentanyl is addiction, as this can lead to other side effects such as tolerance, which can increase the risk of overdose and dependence.
What is the Danger Level of Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is incredibly dangerous. Fentanyl is incredibly addictive, and it can cause serious respiratory depression in a person with no tolerance to opioids.
