Causes & Effects of Fentanyl Abuse & Addiction

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Fentanyl addiction can often times be hidden in plain sight, making it difficult to identify. Understanding and recognizing the signs, symptoms, risks and more is the first step in the recovery journey.

Understanding Fentanyl Addiction

Learn about fentanyl addiction

Fentanyl has helped countless individuals overcome feelings of acute pain when other strong prescription painkillers have not been enough to provide them with comfort. Intended for short-term use in the hospital setting, fentanyl is an opioid that, when used in accordance with the prescribing physician’s directions, can provide relief from pain from physical maladies such as cancer, injury, or major surgery.

But while fentanyl is incredibly useful for pain relief, it is also known to create an intensely euphoric high when abused. This side effect makes fentanyl dangerously addictive for some, and therefore if you are prescribed Fentanyl, it is of the utmost importance that you monitor your use, and that you only take the drug as directed by your doctor.

There is always the potential for abuse with prescription painkillers like Fentanyl, but another type of drug that often contains a mixture of heroin are synthetic derivatives of fentanyl, that have also been becoming popular in recent years. These derivatives are especially dangerous because they are completely unregulated, and therefore users have no way to truly know what they are ingesting when they consume these drugs.  New data shows that fentanyl derivatives like Alfentanil and Carfentanil have been responsible for a sharp increase in opioid overdose because of their deadly toxicity.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a chemical dependence on fentanyl or a synthetic fentanyl derivative, it is recommended that professional help be sought immediately via a treatment center that specializes in helping individuals break free from the grips of an opioid use disorder.

Statistics

Fentanyl addiction statistics

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently published a report entitled “Counterfeit Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl: A Global Threat.” This document was written in response to the epidemic of fentanyl and synthetic fentanyl derivative-related deaths that have taken a toll on communities throughout the country. Ten times stronger than heroin, and often cheaper, fentanyl and fentanyl derivatives have played a role in a staggering increase in loss of life due to opioid overdose in the past several years.

As news of this public health crisis becomes more widespread, more information has become readily available about the many options for treatment for substance abuse. Individuals who are reeling from the effects of a fentanyl use disorder fortunately have more options for care than ever before, and can access support to achieve the substance-free life they deserve.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for fentanyl addiction

If you have never grappled with addiction yourself, you may not understand how a person might come to develop a fentanyl or fentanyl derivative addiction. And while there is no way to accurately predict each instance of chemical dependence, there are some commonalties among individuals who end up battling this type of substance use disorder, a few of which are briefly described in the following:

Genetics: Having a close family member who has a history of struggling with substances of abuse puts one at a greater risk of developing a chemical dependence. Additionally, individuals who have shown a propensity for certain risky behaviors, impulsivity, an aversion to boredom, and thrill-seeking may be more inclined to begin abusing substances as well.

Environmental: Being exposed to substance abuse in the home at an early age may serve to normalize addictive behaviors, and may lead an individual to be more inclined to seek out substances of abuse later in life.

Risk Factors:

  • Personal history of mental illness
  • Possessing certain personality traits
  • Personal history of experiencing pain due to a medical condition or injury
  • Family history of substance abuse and/or addiction
  • Being raised in an environment in which substance use was present

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of fentanyl addiction

There are some important physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral changes that set in when one develops a chemical dependency. And while not exhaustive, the following list briefly outlines some of the signs and symptoms of fentanyl addiction:

Behavioral symptoms:

  • Going to great lengths, and even deceptive measures, in order to acquire more of one’s substance of choice
  • Displaying unusual or erratic behavior that is uncharacteristic
  • Using fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives in situations that are hazardous
  • Being unable to control the frequency and amount of one’s substance abuse
  • Social isolation
  • Continuing to abuse fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives despite problems caused by this type of substance abuse
  • No longer participating in activities that were once enjoyed in favor of substance abuse

Physical symptoms:

  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Slowed breathing
  • Swollen feet and hands
  • Fatigue
  • Racing heart
  • Nausea

Cognitive symptoms:

  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Fixation on finding more of the drug
  • Intense cravings for the drug

Psychosocial symptoms:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Loss of interest in formerly enjoyed activities
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