Understanding Fentanyl Abuse

Learn about fentanyl addiction & abuse

Fentanyl is a legal prescription painkiller in the opioid category that is useful in instances when an individual is experiencing severe pain resulting from bodily traumas such as cancer, injury, surgery, and more. When prescribed by a medical professional, fentanyl can provide relief to patients when other strong opioids like morphine cannot subdue the pain. While fentanyl’s benefits in the proper situations cannot be understated, as is the case with all opioids, there is also the risk of addiction to this drug. Because fentanyl produces a euphoric state, it is often sought out and abused by individuals seeking a high.

Recently, a dangerous type of synthetic fentanyl derivative has become popular among illicit drug users. Some synthetic fentanyl hybrids are often mixed with heroin, and because they are illegal and unregulated, users cannot have any assurance as to their content. Carfentanil is but one example of a fentanyl derivative that has become widely abused because of its potency.

Regardless of whether someone is abusing legal fentanyl, or one of its synthetic derivative counterparts, professional help will be needed to overcome an addiction to these potentially fatal substances.

Statistics

Fentanyl abuse statistics

A cursory search of the latest news related to fentanyl-related deaths will yield pages of stories describing the heartbreaking loss that many families and communities are facing in the wake of the current opioid epidemic. For example, in August 2016, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that, in a span of two weeks, 20 people in the community lost their lives to heroin. Furthermore, 39 individuals had lost their lives to fentanyl by that time, that year. In 2015, the total number of lives lost to fentanyl totaled 30 for the entire year, a statistic that signals the growing problem of fentanyl and fentanyl derivative abuse across the nation.

But fortunately, as awareness is raised to this critical issue, there are also more opportunities to receive care for substance abuse than ever before. To combat the growing problem of opioid addiction, and the accompanying tragic loss of life, fentanyl addiction treatment centers provide necessary resources to interrupt the downward spiral of fentanyl and fentanyl derivative addiction.

Causes and Risks

Causes and risk factors for fentanyl abuse

Although researchers continue to study substance abuse to better understand its etiology, there are still many unknowns when it comes to identifying one’s level of risk for developing a substance use disorder. And while each individual possesses his or her own unique set of strengths and challenges, some critical experiences or factors have been identified as contributing to the likelihood that one will struggle with a substance use disorder. Men and women who develop an addiction to fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative may possess the following risk factors:

Genetics: Having a family member, or multiple family members, who have suffered from substance abuse makes one more prone to developing a substance use order.

Environment: Chronic and/or early exposure to drug or alcohol abuse might contribute to one being more likely to engage in substance abuse because this exposure may serve to normalize addictive behavior.

Personality Traits: It has been shown that individuals who are more likely to exhibit thrill-seeking and risky behavior may be more prone to issues of chemical dependence.

Mental Illness: Often, substance abuse is the result of an individual attempting to subdue the negative psychological symptoms of an untreated mental health condition.

Risk Factors:

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

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of fentanyl abuse

Merely possessing a prescription for fentanyl does not indicate that an individual will develop a dependence on the drug. However, there are some physiological and behavioral signs and symptoms that indicate that one has developed a substance use disorder because of his or her fentanyl or fentanyl derivative addiction, some of which are described in the following:

Behavioral symptoms:

Social isolation
Continuing to abuse fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives despite problems caused by this type of substance abuse
Being unable to control the frequency and amount of one’s substance abuse
Using fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives in situations that are hazardous
No longer participating in activities that were once enjoyed in favor of substance abuse
Go 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

Physical symptoms:

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

Cognitive symptoms:

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

Psychosocial symptoms:

Depression
Anxiety
Loss of interest in formerly enjoyed activities

Effects

Effects of fentanyl abuse

When a person develops a dependence on fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative, he or she risks significant damages to his or her physical health, emotional wellbeing, and overall ability to function in daily life. At best a hindrance to living life to potential, and at worst fatal, some of these consequences are described below:

Contracting other diseases such as hepatitis or HIV
Abuse of other harmful substances
Damage to internal organs
Sexual dysfunction
Loss of important relationships
Legal trouble
Loss of child custody
Overdose
Death

Co-Occurring Disorders

Fentanyl abuse & co-occurring disorders

It has been well documented that chemical dependence and mental illness often occur simultaneously, and it is necessary to address both during treatment in order to achieve a sustained recovery. There are some mental health concerns that seem to often accompany a fentanyl or fentanyl derivative addiction, some of which are noted below: