Someone who exhibits fentanyl overdose symptoms may be at risk of imminent death. Knowing how to recognize and respond to these symptoms can truly save lives.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic (or lab-created) opioid. It is significantly more powerful than morphine and heroin, and it is also highly addictive.
As is the case with other opioids, fentanyl has a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS). By slowing the delivery of messages between the brain and other parts of the body, fentanyl can ease pain and induce a sense of euphoric relaxation.
In a medical environment, fentanyl is used as a preoperative anesthetic and to treat people who are experiencing severe pain, usually in the aftermath of surgery or due to cancer. It may be administered via injection, through a transdermal skin patch, or as a film that dissolves in the mouth.
Unfortunately, illicit drug manufacturers have been known to add fentanyl or fentanyl-like substances to street drugs, such as pills that are made to look like they contain oxycodone (OxyContin) or hydrocodone (Vicodin).
People who use these illegal substances often have no idea that they are taking such a potent drug, which elevates their risk of both addiction and overdose.
Symptoms of Fentanyl Overdose
Throughout the 21st century, the United States has experienced a dramatic spike in overdose deaths. This epidemic has been fueled by fentanyl.
Symptoms of fentanyl overdose include:
- Profound confusion or disorientation
- Severely impaired coordination
- Constricted (pinpoint) pupils
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to be awakened
- Faint heartbeat or pulse
- Slow, shallow, or otherwise irregular breathing
- Gurgling or snoring sounds
- Skin that is cool or clammy to the touch
- Blue or purple coloring near lips and fingertips
Anyone who exhibits fentanyl overdose symptoms after using the drug may be in the midst of a life-threatening crisis and needs immediate medical help.
How to Respond to a Fentanyl Overdose
If you are with someone who overdoses on fentanyl, it is essential to take immediate action.
Immediate Response
- Call 911, and stay with the person until help arrives. Prepare to tell the first responders as a much as you can about what substances the person took, how much they took, and when they began to exhibit fentanyl overdose symptoms.
- If you have Narcan, administer the medication immediately before or after calling 911. Narcan’s effects can wear off after a short period – so even if you are able to revive the individual, they still need to be evaluated by a qualified professional.
- If they are unconscious and cannot be awakened, place them on their side, with their hand under their head and one of their knees slightly bent. This is known as the recovery position, and is designed to prevent a person from choking if they vomit.
Narcan
Narcan is a nasal spray that contains naloxone. If it is administered in time, it can reverse the effects of an overdose involving fentanyl or another opioid. This medication is available without a prescription throughout the United States.
To administer Narcan to someone who is unconscious:
- Place them on their back, and lift their head slightly.
- Insert the tip of the Narcan device into either of their nostrils, and press the plunger at the bottom of the device with your thumb.
- It is safe to give a person multiple doses of Narcan. If they don’t revive after their first dose, wait two to three minutes, then administer another dose.
Again, please be sure to call 911 even if you are successful in reviving a person with Narcan. If they have been taking other drugs in addition to fentanyl, or if the Narcan’s effects wear off, they may still be in danger. It’s important for them to be assessed by a doctor or another qualified professional.
Fentanyl Overdose Statistics
The ability to recognize fentanyl overdose symptoms and respond in an appropriate manner can make a literal life-or-death difference.
In 2022, the U.S. recorded 107,941 overdose deaths. Of this total, 73,838 (or 68.4%) involved synthetic opioids other than methadone, a category that consists primarily of fentanyl.
Here’s a more detailed look at the catastrophic impact of fentanyl use since the turn of the century:
- From 1999—2015, the annual number of deaths due to fentanyl overdose in the U.S. increased from 739 to 9,580.
- From 2016—2022, the annual number of fentanyl overdose deaths in the U.S. rose from 19,413 to 73,838.
Treatment Options for Fentanyl Addiction
In addition to overdose, one of the other more significant dangers of fentanyl use is addiction. Once a person becomes dependent on this drug, powerful cravings and intense withdrawal symptoms can keep them trapped in active addiction.
Anyone who is living with untreated fentanyl addiction remains at risk of myriad negative outcomes, including overdose and death. But when a person gets appropriate care from a reputable addiction treatment provider, they can end their use of fentanyl and other opioids, learn to control their urges and compulsions, and begin to live a much healthier life in recovery.
Treatment for fentanyl addiction often involves a combination of medication and therapy.
Prescription medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone can suppress cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, so that people can stop using fentanyl without experiencing the severe physical and psychological distress that would otherwise occur.
The therapeutic component of treatment for fentanyl addiction helps patients identify the issues that contributed to their substance use, and develop the skills that will empower them to achieve a drug-free future.
Depending on each person’s specific needs, they may benefit from therapies such as:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy sessions
- Family therapy and education
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Holistic therapies
- Trauma-focused therapies
- Somatic therapy
There is no single, ideal course of treatment for fentanyl addiction. What’s most important is finding a provider who will evaluate your health, assess your unique needs, discuss your short- and long-term goals, then use this information to develop a truly personalized treatment plan.
Find Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Atlanta
Valor Behavioral Health is a trusted provider of customized outpatient care for adults and adolescents who have become addicted to fentanyl and other opioids. We also offer dual diagnosis programming for patients who have anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
At our fentanyl addiction treatment center in Atlanta, Georgia, patients can receive age-appropriate treatment at the partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
