Fentanyl Addiction and Abuse
Siobahn Morse, the executive director of The National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies, discusses Fentanyl addiction and abuse.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to, but more potent than, morphine. It is a schedule II prescription drug.
It’s typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery.
It is also sometimes used to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to opiates.
Fentanyl Addiction and Abuse
What are the effects of Fentanyl?
Like heroin, morphine and other opioid drugs, Fentanyl works by binding to the body’s opiate receptors, highly concentrated areas of the brain that control pain and emotions.
When opiate drugs bind to the receptors they can drive up dopamine levels in the brain’s reward areas producing a state of euphoria and relaxation.
What is Fentanyl addiction and abuse?
Abuse can include altering the Fentanyl dose or applying more patches than needed, taking it for unintended reasons, and repeated, chronic use despite potential negative consequences.
Potentially addictive drugs such as Fentanyl activate the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
This stimulation can cause patients to chase the rewarding feelings causing them to crave the drug more and more.
Powerful psychological and physiological cravings are indicative of a drug dependency.
What are the side effects of Fentanyl?
Side effects of Fentanyl include euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory depression, and respiratory arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma and death.
What are the withdrawal symptoms of Fentanyl?
Since a patient can develop both a physical and psychological addiction to this powerful opioid, Fentanyl withdrawal can affect people in a number of ways.
Symptoms of a Fentanyl withdrawal can include abdominal pain, anxiety, confusion, hot flashes, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, muscle aches, rapid breathing, stuff or runny nose and tremors.
Fentanyl Addiction and Abuse
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