Fentanyl can kill you within a matter of 2 minutes, usually due to respiratory failure (breathing that has stopped). Even though an online pill identifier might show that a pill bought on the street looks like a legitimate prescription pill because it has the same color, shape or imprint code, this is most likely NOT true. Illegal drug manufacturers create fake opioid pills to look exactly like the real ones. The fake pills may also contain fentanyl, or only contain fentanyl. You cannot tell if a pill, powder, nasal spray or injection bought off of the street contains a deadly dose of any drug just by looking at it.
Before taking this medicine
There are specific signs to watch for that mean someone needs help right away. These signs mean their body isn’t getting enough oxygen, which can lead to brain damage or death if not treated promptly. Central nervous system (CNS) depression is the primary reason the fent fold happens. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, which control everything the body does. When fentanyl depresses the CNS, everything slows down, including thinking, breathing, heart rate, and muscle control. People under fentanyl’s influence may not Substance abuse realize they’re bent over, as their brain is so slowed down that it can’t process what’s happening.
How To Help Someone With Opioid Use Disorder
The ingestion method of fentanyl can also cause varying physical effects. Injecting fentanyl can cause collapsed veins, bacterial infections, and clogged veins due to additives. Fentanyl and other opioids also weaken the immune system, making it challenging for the body to protect itself from pathogens. Chronic constipation can also occur, as fentanyl slows the motility of the digestive system and puts someone at risk for bowel obstruction.
- People experiencing the fent fold often appear frozen in this unnatural posture, unable to respond or move for minutes to hours at a time.
- This would offer a new approach to treating substance abuse, but the results of this research will likely not be known for years to come.
- Most of the time we see individuals “Folding” or “Bending” forward (as if they are hunched over), but sometimes people may start to “Lean” backwards.
- In a medical setting, people take prescribed fentanyl for severe or chronic pain.
- People taking a daily prescribed dose will become dependent on the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms if they stop it.
Why is fentanyl so much more dangerous than other opioids?
In fact, most fentanyl-related https://ecosoberhouse.com/ deaths are from fentanyl made in illegal laboratories. Fentanyl is heavily trafficked into the US from other countries and sold as pills or powders, and it has largely replaced heroin in the drug supply. In some cases, these illicit formulations of fentanyl are made to look like other prescription opioid tablets. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have quadrupled in recent years. Because of the so-called “War on Drugs” and criminalization of people who use drugs, people often are unaware of the exact composition of the substances they’re using. This makes evidence-based harm reduction strategies such as fentanyl test strips, safety planning, and access to safe supply more vital than ever.
Valley Spring Recovery Center fentanyl fold is an approved provider for Blue Shield of California and Cigna, while also accepting many other major insurance carriers. Valley Spring Recovery Center is an approved provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna, while also accepting many other major insurance carriers. Discover affordable rehab centers near you, offering easy access and convenience. Stay close to family and friends while getting the support you need. Joe Kukura is an SFist staff asst. editor / reporter who has been published in almost every San Francisco publication, including Hoodline, SF Weekly, Thrillist, and Broke Ass Stuart.