Fentanyl: What You Need To Know National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse

Fentanyl overdose is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. The strength of fentanyl means that an overdose is dangerously easy, and its effects can begin immediately after consumption. Severe health complications and even death may result without the necessary immediate medical intervention. Learning to recognize the signs of a fentanyl overdose – and reacting quickly when you see them – can save a life.

Preventing Fentanyl Overdose: Harm Reduction Strategies

Street fentanyl has emerged as a leading cause of death among young people in the U.S., age 18 to 45. But research suggests far fewer young people and teenagers are using drugs (other than cannabis). This trend matters because new users have low physical tolerance for opioids such as fentanyl, which means they’re more likely to overdose and potentially die. Thirty years after the U.S. opioid crisis began — and a decade after fentanyl spread nationwide — the U.S. has made strides developing better and more affordable services for people experiencing addiction. Medications that reduce opioid cravings, including buprenorphine and methadone, are more widely available, in part because of insurance coverage provided by Medicaid. In many states, roughly $50 billion in opioid settlement money paid out by corporations is also starting to help.

U.S. Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid by Sex, 1999-2023

Given the potency of fentanyl, multiple administrations of naloxone are sometimes needed. People are using fentanyl (and other high risk street drugs) more skillfully. They often tell me they’ve adapted to the risks of fentanyl by smoking rather than injecting the drug, which many addiction experts believe is safer (though still incredibly dangerous). People try to never use fentanyl alone and often carry naloxone or Narcan to reverse overdoses. Many people use test strips to identify unwanted contaminants in their drugs and use smaller fentanyl doses.

• Stay with the patient while they await the arrival of emergency services.
• Fentanyl is significantly stronger than other opioids — a two milligram dose can be lethal — and users are often unaware of how much fentanyl is in the illicit pills they’re taking, an especially dangerous combination.
• Fentanyl is known for causing relaxation, but someone who is experiencing an overdose may find themselves feeling weak and limp.
• Learn more about the top causes of death in the US, how much money the government spends to combat opioids, and get the data directly in your inbox by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.

Three waves of opioid overdose deaths

The addictive nature of fentanyl and other opioids makes them very dangerous, and continued use can wreak havoc on a person’s physical and mental health. If you or someone you’re close to uses opioids or street drugs, these ideas may help protect them. As with any opiate, there is a risk of dependency, tolerance, misuse, and addiction with fentanyl. Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms when individuals suddenly stop taking the drug. Older people are more likely than younger individuals to experience adverse effects, especially the respiratory depressant effects of fentanyl.

Heroin Detox

Help educate your loved one on the risks of fentanyl and make sure they know these harm reduction strategies. “Xylazine causes severe wounds on people but it Substance abuse requires a large amount of it to be fatal,” he said, a sharp contrast with fentanyl, which can be deadly even in tiny doses. But doctors, researchers and harm reduction activists told NPR if addiction services are scaled back or shut down, the promising recovery among teens and young adults could unravel.

Data Source

During the first half of 2016, the percentage of fentanyl-related opioid deaths had more than doubled, jumping to 74 percent, according to a new report. Deaths due to opioid overdoses have risen sharply in the past few years, partly due to a particularly potent drug called fentanyl. Fentanyl is between 50 and 100 times more powerful than another opioid, morphine, and its use seems to be on the rise in the U.S.

Fentanyl does attach to the opioid receptors in the brain, which are the ones that determine pain and feelings. If the drug attaches itself to these receptors, in addition to easing the pain it creates feelings of euphoria. But it is the rapid effect fentanyl has on the body, specifically the respiratory system, which makes it so dangerous.

• Not everyone dying from a fentanyl overdose is a seasoned opioid user.
• After calling 911, provide rescue breaths if possible, and place any unconscious person in the recovery position while you wait for help to arrive.
• Taking fentanyl unknowingly makes it difficult to take steps to keep yourself safer.
• Police evidence that looked like black tar heroin actually was heroin in 95% of cases, suggesting that fentanyl was rarely in “heroin” in 2020.
• These findings are consistent with recent mortality data, which indicate that overdose deaths with illegally manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs detected peaked in mid-2023 and started to decline thereafter (2).

In 14 percent of the cases, the form of the drug that the person had used was not known. The Stop Overdose website educates drug users on fentanyl, naloxone, polysubstance use, and dealing with stigma. A 17-year-old boy was found unresponsive, with pinpoint pupils and a slow respiratory rate.

There is no way to know how much fentanyl is in something based on look, smell, or taste. Any opioid pill not from a pharmacy is highly likely to be fake and contain fentanyl. Lozenges, tablets, and pills may take about 15–30 minutes to kick in and begin taking effect, and the effects typically last about 4–6 hours. However, fentanyl patches might take up to 1–2 days to begin working, but the effects will typically last for up to 72 hours. Kouri Richins also faces over two dozen charges in a separate case filed earlier this year alleging she committed mortgage fraud in 2021.

What Happens During a Fentanyl Overdose?

In 2023, adults aged 35–44 accounted for 20,344 fentanyl overdoses, 28.0% of the fentanyl deaths that year, and were 13.5% of the US population. Fentanyl is significantly stronger than other opioids — a two milligram dose can be lethal — and users are often unaware of how much fentanyl is in the illicit pills they’re taking, an especially dangerous combination. The DEA found that five out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contained a potentially lethal dose. A person with opioid use disorder has an increased risk of overdose.

• Fentanyl is a potent opioid that offers pain relief to those who live with severe acute or chronic pain conditions.
• At autopsy, the substances tested for and the circumstances under which the toxicology tests are performed vary by jurisdiction.
• Elena’s partner, Vadim, who also smokes fentanyl laced with xylazine, said people facing severe addiction have adapted to fentanyl’s incredible potency, often using smaller quantities.

These warning signs typically appear within minutes of exposure, requiring immediate medical intervention. Fentanyl is estimated to be about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as a pain reliever. It is an effective medication for managing severe pain when properly prescribed and monitored by a clinician.

A fentanyl overdose can happen extremely fast, so the response to one must be fast as well. A person who is experiencing a fentanyl overdose how long does fentanyl stay in your system often has lips or nails that are bluish or purplish in color. Fentanyl overdose can occur very easily, especially when used in combination with other illicit drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine.