What Is Fentanyl?
For anyone who’s unfamiliar with the opioid epidemic, you may not know about the rise of Fentanyl. Over the last several years, Fentanyl has drastically increased the amount of Opioid related fatalities. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s 50-100 times more powerful than morphine. Moreover, this drug is commonly prescribed for chronic pain management in people who have built up a tolerance to standard opioids. Doctors typically prescribe it to be taken through skin patch, injection or throat lozenge. When it’s manufactured illegally, it’s usually dropped onto blotter paper, sold as a nasal spray, powder or pills. Additionally, drug dealers mix Fentanyl with other alternative substances like cocaine and standard opiates to increase their addictiveness.
Tell Me About The Stats
In 2020 there were roughly 92,000 drug-related fatalities. Of which, 68,630 involved opioids. According to NIDA, Fentanyl accounted for 59% of opioid related deaths in 2020 compared to 14% in 2010. This is a HUGE uptick in only 7 years. This means that opioids account for almost 75% of all fatal drug deaths in 2020. Despite these numbers, opioids and opiates are still legally prescribed to help patients with chronic pain management.
Moreover, if you are wondering whether or not someone is struggling with opioids here are some common signs and symptoms to look for:
- Extreme happiness
- Problems breathing
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Sedation
If you or someone you know is struggling with Fentanyl, contact us to learn about how we can help!