Fentanyl was developed as a synthetic painkiller. The synthetic nature of the drug allows healthcare providers to be more precise with its application, and it is in many regards a superior painkiller for medical use. Unfortunately, its synthetic nature also makes it more potent than other opioids, and that is why it has become such a devastating street drug. Fentanyl abuse is one of the most dangerous types of drug abuse, and the dangers come in plenty of forms.
Understanding the dangers of fentanyl abuse and addiction can help you make an informed decision to seek addiction treatment if your or a loved one is struggling.
Addiction to Fentanyl
One of the great challenges when dealing with fentanyl use is that it is extremely addictive. This goes beyond abuse and into the territory of dependency. That dependency can be both physical and psychological. That means abandoning fentanyl is extremely difficult to do psychologically, and going cold turkey can be very dangerous.
The addictive properties of fentanyl mean that any adverse effects are going to get worse over time unless the addiction is overcome.
Side Effects of Fentanyl
Fentanyl comes with a number of side effects. Any of them can be debilitating, and combinations of side effects are sure to be challenging. Among the lighter side effects are:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Decreased heart rate
- Nausea
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disrupted sleep
More severe side effects are associated with withdrawal and overdose, and they can lead to severe health consequences.
Lifestyle Disruption from Fentanyl Abuse
Fentanyl abuse makes it hard to keep up with obligations. The side effects can make someone unable to perform at work. That can lead to financial struggles and even legal struggles.
Obtaining fentanyl is also very difficult. The struggles to maintain an addiction can lead people into personal and legal trouble. Fentanyl affects a person’s ability to maintain family relationships, and ultimately, it is going to cause severe health problems.
Health Problems
Fentanyl abuse can have a negative impact on your body in a number of ways. For starters, it will change your appetite and diet, and it often leads to malnutrition. Fentanyl is designed to lower your heart rate, and that can decrease blood flow to the brain and other organs, leading to chronic and often dangerous stress on those organs.
Things get even worse with withdrawal. Cutting your body’s supply of fentanyl can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can cause psychological fallout with symptoms of anxiety, agitation, and insomnia. It can also cause excruciating pain throughout the body. As withdrawal symptoms progress, they can quickly become intolerable, and they make quitting fentanyl use extremely difficult. Worse, fentanyl withdrawal can be deadly, so you should never try to go through withdrawal without medical oversight.
Fentanyl Overdose
It cannot be overstated. Fentanyl is arguably the most dangerous drug in the world right now. When it is improperly handled, it is extremely easy to overdose or misuse the drug. Overdose can lead to death.
However, treatment for fentanyl abuse and addiction can help you make the changes you need for long-term recovery. Although fentanyl abuse is dangerous, it does not have to be deadly if you reach out for help.
Reach Out to Serenity Light Recovery for Fentanyl Rehab
If you think you or a loved one has a problem, get help as soon as you can. Serenity Light Recovery is available to answer questions at 855.658.6109, and we can help the person affected get into a fentanyl rehab program to kick the fentanyl as fast as is safely possible. We’ll provide addiction treatment and therapies that have a lasting impact so the impulse to use fentanyl doesn’t return easily.
