What’s Fentanyl
Over the past few years, some storylines have highlighted the increase in deaths associated with Fentanyl. If you’re wondering, “what’s Fentanyl,” look no further. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s 50-100 times more powerful than morphine. It’s prescribed to patients with chronic pain or people who’ve built up a tolerance to standard opioids. It’s also used to help manage pain with surgery patients. Most doctors prescribe it to be taken through injection, throat lozenge or skin patch. When manufactured illegally, it’s typically sold in powder form, pills, dropped onto blotter paper, nasal spray or eye droppers. Drug dealers also mix Fentanyl with other substances to increase the addictive effects of their products.
What Do The Statistics Say?
In 2017, this drug accounted for 59% of opioid related deaths, which is a drastic increase from the 14% in 2010. Moreover, in 2020 there were approximately 92,000 deaths associated with drug overdose. Of which, 68,630 were associated with opioid related deaths. This means that almost 75% of all fatal drug related deaths in 2020 were related to Opiates. Unfortunately, Opiates and Opioids are still being prescribed legally to help patients with chronic pain. If you want to help people who are experiencing a drug overdose, check out this link for Narcan.
What Are The Signs?
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of Fentanyl and Opioid use include:
- Drowsiness
- Extreme happiness
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Problems breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Sedation
Whether you or your loved one is seeking support because of an intervention or on their own efforts, our team can help. If you or someone you know is struggling with Fentanyl or other Opioids, contact us today to learn more about our services.