The Fentanyl Crisis and Overdose Rise During the Holidays

man holding his face in his hands

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid, with a potential strength of up to 50 times that of heroin and 100 times that of morphine. It is FDA approved to treat extreme pain, such as that caused by advanced cancer. In 2022, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, are the leading cause of death for over 75,000 Americans. Considering how potent fentanyl is, its potential for death is much greater. It is available only on doctors’ prescriptions, but illegal fentanyl is often misused by mixing it with other drugs.

The holidays can be particularly stressful for those in recovery or struggling with a substance use disorder. A person experiencing fentanyl addiction is likely to have an opioid use disorder. A total of 11 symptoms are connected with an opioid use disorder.

The Dangers of Fentanyl

Over 150 people lose their lives daily by abusing synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl could be added to or laced with several hard drugs, such as fake prescription opioid tablets, heroin, cocaine, meth, and ecstasy, without or without the user knowing.

If you’re wondering what fentanyl does to you, it can cause you to feel lightheaded, tired, confused, or disoriented. Fentanyl’s potential to cease breathing is its most lethal adverse effect.

Since the Fentanyl crisis is the single deadliest drug threat, it can induce an overdose considerably more rapidly (often within minutes) than heroin. Overdoses from fentanyl often resemble morphine, codeine, methadone, tramadol, and other opioids. Nevertheless, fentanyl has been linked to other unusual overdose signs, such as:

  • Instantaneous gray or blue lips
  • Convulsive twitching or stiffness of the body
  • Seeing mouth foaming
  • perplexity just before passivity

 

Fentanyl Addiction and Overdose

For many struggling with an addiction or in active sobriety, the holiday season can trigger bad and good emotions and stress. For example, deaths by suicide, assault, drug overdose, and car crash all rise sharply around the holidays, as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics’ Surveillance of Violent Deaths. Most of these occurrences can be traced back to substance addiction, typically from people attempting to cope with the additional pressures of the holiday season.

This synthetic opioid may cause withdrawal effects in illicit users, making it extremely hard to stop using. In addition, a user’s body will likely develop an addiction to the drug to the point of wanting more of it to experience its effect. Whenever this occurs, individuals face the threat of overdosing.

Fentanyl overdose symptoms include severely slowed breathing, a risky drop in pulse rate, dizziness, and possibly coma. These problems often have catastrophic outcomes. If you or your loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder, getting assistance from our recovery center is recommended to avoid this from happening.

Unfolding Rainbow Fentanyl Fears

Parent’s new fear- Rainbow fentanyl. To target American youth, counterfeit fentanyl pills now mimic the look of candy. Often referred to as “rainbow fentanyl.”

Drug traffickers know that teenagers and young residents are particularly susceptible to becoming addicted to fentanyl. So, they purposefully use fentanyl in various visually appealing tablet and powder forms. However, every form of fentanyl poses a significant danger, no matter its appearance.

 

How to Protect Your Child from Using Fentanyl:

 

  • Keep the medication out of sight and away from children.
  • Have a conversation.
  • Monitor your child’s social media usage.
  • Notify the dangers of accepting anything from strangers.

 

Fentanyl Side Effects

The extreme pleasure experienced by those who abuse this synthetic drug has a high cost. Those who use fentanyl will likely experience the drug’s side effects. These are a few of the harmful effects:

  • Dry mouth
  • Heartburn
  • Fainting
  • Rashes and itching
  • Drowsiness
  • Back or chest pain
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Uncontrollable shaking
  • Pinpoint Pupils
  • Clammy skin

 

What is the Fentanyl Death Pose?

The media has coined the term “fentanyl death pose” to describe the rigidity of the body during a fentanyl overdose. Wooden chest sickness could be another name for the torso muscle stiffness caused by fentanyl.

Rapid injections, high doses of fentanyl, aging above 60, underlying neurologic or metabolic diseases, Parkinson’s disease, and the consumption of drugs that may elevate norepinephrine and serotonin levels, including some antidepressants, are all significant risk factors for fentanyl-induced muscular rigidity. We must provide immediate access to lifesaving treatment on demand to stop the deaths. While any opioid use is risky, fentanyl has raised the stakes. Every single episode of fentanyl use carries the risk of immediate death.

 

Help for Addiction in St. Augustine, Florida

You aren’t alone if you or a loved one is dealing with substance abuse. We at Augustine Recovery offer the best drug treatment program.

Our Florida rehabilitation center is extensive and managed by compassionate, attentive professionals. Even in the middle of anxiety and triggers, we are standing by to assist you in embracing healing.

Don’t hesitate to contact Augustine Recovery by phone or online for additional information.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#:~:text=Pharmaceutical%20fentanyl%20is%20a%20synthetic,pain%2C%20typically%20advanced%20cancer%20pain.&text=It%20is%2050%20to%20100,abuse%20in%20the%20United%20States.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2022/pr22-35-letter.pdf

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/fentanyl-treatment/signs-of-abuse

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm