Fentanyl and Opioid Addiction
Fentanyl Addiction: Signs, Effects, Overdose, & Treatment
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that can cause severe harm when misused. It is a prescription drug for pain relief; however, it can be produced and distributed illegally and has a high potential for misuse and addiction.1 If you or someone you care about uses fentanyl or other substances that might contain fentanyl, it’s important to understand the effects of fentanyl, fentanyl overdose symptoms and treatment, and where to get help for fentanyl addiction.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to morphine, but between 50 and 100 times more potent.1,2 It is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it has a recognized medical use but a high potential for misuse and psychological and physical dependence.3,4
What Is Fentanyl Addiction?
Fentanyl is a highly addictive substance due to its potency.1 Medical professionals diagnose fentanyl addiction as an opioid use disorder (OUD), which means that a person compulsively uses fentanyl despite knowledge of the negative consequences.1
Fentanyl can quickly cause dependence, meaning that a person needs the substance to avoid feeling uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which can fuel the cycle of addiction.1 People can be dependent on fentanyl and not addicted; however, dependence can lead to addiction.1
Fentanyl Overdose
Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid that can cause a fatal overdose, even when used in small amounts.13 A fentanyl overdose can occur when it produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms.1 One of the main risks of overdosing on fentanyl is hypoxia, a condition that occurs when a person’s breathing stops and their brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen, which can lead to coma and death.1
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
People struggling with fentanyl addiction can benefit from addiction treatment.1 Treatment may help you stop the cycle of substance misuse and start the path to recovery. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. It should be personalized and modified to your medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal needs, as well as your age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.19
Treatment can take place at different levels of intensity and in a variety of settings, including outpatient rehab, where you live at home and travel to a treatment center on a regular basis, or inpatient rehab, where you live onsite and receive 24/7 care and monitoring.
Get Help for Fentanyl Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with fentanyl misuse, it may be time to seek help. Finding treatment may feel overwhelming, but the caring admissions staff at American Addiction Centers (AAC) is here to help every step of the way.
Call us today free at to learn about treatment options, cost, and how to use insurance to help pay for treatment. We are available 24/7 via our confidential helpline so you can start on the road to recovery today.
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