Fentanyl Explained
Have you ever heard of Fentanyl? I hadn’t heard of it until I found out about Prince’s death. It was one of the drugs in the cocktail of intoxicants found in his bloodstream in the tox report. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Fentanyl is so strong that it can be one hundred times more powerful than it’s natural opioid cousin, morphine.
Fentanyl has been around since the 1960’s. It was originally created for veterinarians to use as an anesthetic for horses, and other large animals, it has mostly been used used as a pain reliever for surgery recovery, mixed with other drugs to be an anesthetic for humans, Çduring hospice or end of life medical care. Usually Fentanyl is taken by injection, through a patch, or can be consumed in a lozenge.
How Opioids Work
Like other opioid drugs, Fentanyl binds to the pain receptors, reward receptors, and the receptors that monitor addiction. It causes euphoria, lethargy or drowsiness. It can make a person nauseas, confused, or it can even cause a person to have trouble breathing. At its worst Fentanyl can cause a person to go unconscious, go into a coma, or even cause death. Lately Fentanyl related deaths have increased. It is more available and more underestimated than many intoxicants available today. Part of that is because of synthetic versions of Fentanyl that allow it to be accessible for less expensive and some of them are more potent than the original.
Another Layer of Danger
Fentanyl is exceptionally potent and fast acting. This quick acting nature is part of why so many people become addicted so quickly. Taking the drug results in a rapid euphoria. However, that elation is temporary and can be replaced by extreme consequences.
If you or someone you know is or has been addicted to drugs or alcohol you may already know some of the scary ways it can affect the whole life of the addicted person, from halting productivity, to deteriorating the most important relationships. If you are suffering from addiction, and are seeking out addiction recovery in Florida, call us now at (833) 596-3502 to learn more about our intensive inpatient treatment or outpatient detox center in South Florida. We are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our patients. Let us help guide you to the path of sober living.
