The United States continues to struggle with an overdose epidemic that continues to escalate. Driven by illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, more than 107,000 deaths were reported in 2021 due to drug overdose. But what is fentanyl, and why is it causing the recent drug epidemic?
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, whether it’s chronic or temporary. Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II drug, meaning a person who takes Fentanyl is more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder than a Schedule III drug.
The CDC describes fentanyl as being similar to morphine but 100x times more potent and should only be taken under the supervision of a medical professional to prevent misuse.
Understanding Fentanyl Addiction
The recent fentanyl addiction epidemic has led to many specialty programs and rehab centers. For example, fentanyl rehab at Ranch Creek Recovery seeks to offer personalized treatment for people suffering from addiction, regardless if the addict took fentanyl by accident or on purpose.
Like other opioids, fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain, which causes a sense of euphoria. Over time, the brain needs more opioids to maintain the initial high experience.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has an opioid addiction, watch for these signs:
• More fentanyl is taken at a greater length of time than intended
• The addict wants to stop but feels unable to do so
• Cravings to use fentanyl
• Spending a lot of time trying to obtain fentanyl
• An inability to adequately meet past obligations
• Withdrawal from work and other activities
• Symptoms like mood changes and hallucinations
Contact a medical professional if you or someone you love is experiencing a fentanyl addiction.
Why Fentanyl Overdose is so Common
Fentanyl is Used as a Filament
Since fentanyl is highly controlled and regulated, it’s challenging to find and hard to produce. But most fentanyl that’s circulating may not be stable, but as a synthetic drug, it’s often cheaper to make, especially when you compare the potency of cocaine to the effectiveness of fentanyl.
When drug dealers want to produce a more potent, cheaper drug, they’ll use fentanyl in some or all of the product. It isn’t uncommon for heroin users to use what they think is heroin, only to find out they shot straight fentanyl in their veins. This has led to increased death from IV drugs.
Fentanyl is More Potent
The fentanyl analog carfentanil is 100 times more potent than regular fentanyl and 150 to 200 times more powerful than heroin and morphine. This makes fentanyl and its analogs a preferred drug filament, as you can use less of the product and still make the same amount of money.
However, its potency has led to many people unknowingly taking fentanyl in high doses. As mentioned, fentanyl is at least 100 times more potent than heroin, meaning people who take the same amount of what they think is heroin will either die or develop a crippling fentanyl addiction.
Fentanyl is More Addictive
Say someone takes fentanyl once but isn’t aware of it. They may be led to believe that the drug dealer who gave them the drug has a better version of the initial substance they were taking. They may keep going back to the same drug dealer who can “scratch” their addictive itch.
If they can’t contact the same dealer, they’ll either go through withdrawal symptoms or take more of the initial substance they were taking. This makes their addiction to the initial substance and possibly fentanyl even harder to break, which may eventually lead to an overdose.
How to Solve the Fentanyl Epidemic
Solving the fentanyl epidemic isn’t going to be easy, but healthcare professionals have a few ideas. For example, we can use naloxone to prevent opioids from bonding in the brain. We can also make opioids more readily available to addicts to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Other strategies include making addiction treatment, fentanyl test strips, prescription heroin, and supervised consumption sites easy to access for addicts who need these services.
Although it seems counterintuitive to give addicts access to drugs, decriminalization has been known to encourage people to seek help and prevent black market drug use. For example, Portugal’s policy to decriminalize all drugs has reduced drug-related overdoses significantly.
