Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid with a high potential for accidental overdose. These five dangers of fentanyl are all compelling reasons why you should avoid it at all costs. A fentanyl addiction treatment program can help you overcome fentanyl use.
Call 844.470.0410 to learn more about the fentanyl addiction treatment programs available at Vertava Health Mississippi.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. There are two main types: pharmaceutical fentanyl produced in a lab and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The strength of both types means the risk of fatal overdose is high.
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is often distributed in forms that include:
- Lozenges or “lollipops”
- Sublingual tablets
- Sublingual sprays
- Nasal sprays
- Transdermal patches
- Injectable solution
Pharmaceutically produced fentanyl often comes with ingredient and dosage information, which can lead people to believe that it is safer and poses less overdose risk than other kinds of fentanyl. However, any amount of fentanyl can be deadly when it’s not administered by a medical professional.
Five Dangers of Fentanyl Addiction
Fentanyl has become so widespread in recent years that oftentimes, people don’t even realize they’re taking it. Here are five of the top dangers of fentanyl addiction. Knowing these fentanyl warnings and risks can help spread information about the deadly results of using this drug.
1. Fentanyl Is 50 Times Stronger than Heroin
Fentanyl is much stronger than other opioids. The CDC states that it’s about 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. This means that one dose of fentanyl can be equivalent to taking 100 doses of morphine at one time.
2. Even Small Doses Can Be Fatal
Fentanyl’s potency means that even a small dose can have a fatal outcome. This is especially true when someone is accustomed to using a less potent opioid, like heroin. It also means there’s a very slight difference between a dose that gets a person high and a dose that causes death.
3. Fentanyl Is One of the Leading Causes of Overdose Death
In recent years, fentanyl has been a leading cause of overdose deaths. It’s hard to tell exactly how many deaths are caused by fentanyl because overdose deaths are often tracked by drug categories rather than specific types.
According to the CDC, nearly 60,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. were caused by fentanyl or similar synthetic opioids in 2020 alone.
4. It’s Hard to Tell How Much Fentanyl You’re Taking
Fentanyl has no taste or smell. This means that unless you use fentanyl test strips with each dose, it’s impossible to tell how strong a dose is and whether fentanyl has been added to another drug, like cocaine or heroin.
When you can’t gauge the strength of a dose, there’s a much higher chance of accidentally taking a fatal amount.
5. Fentanyl Is Often Added to Other Drugs
One of the most important fentanyl warnings that anyone who uses illicit drugs should know is that there’s a high chance of accidentally taking fentanyl, even when you don’t think you’re taking an opioid.
Because of fentanyl’s strength, it has become a common practice for dealers to mix fentanyl with other drugs to increase the potency. Even drugs that aren’t opioids, like cocaine, meth, and MDMA, can be laced with fentanyl.
Get Help for Fentanyl Addiction at Vertava Health Mississippi
Vertava Health Mississippi is a leading provider of fentanyl addiction treatment in Southaven, Mississippi. We offer inpatient and outpatient programs as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to effectively help patients stop using fentanyl from day one.
Our team of dedicated professionals can help you manage cravings, learn skills for avoiding relapse, and address your mental health needs. Get help for fentanyl addiction today by calling Vertava Health Mississippi at 844.470.0410.
