Frightening Fentanyl
A global crisis– the deadly fentanyl opium, places a threat in the hands of innocents: children, teens, and adults. Everyone should be weary of the highly addictive and life altering drug.
Fentanyl in a bag that contained synthetic opioid fentanyl, disguised as oxycodone.
Traditional fentanyl is served to treat severe pain. The drug is 50-100 times stronger than morphine, a potent opiate naturally found in opium, prescribed as a pain medication, namely after surgery.
Precisely, fentanyl interacts with receptors in the brain to relieve pain and produce feelings of contentment and pleasure. In appropriate settings, such as medical operations or prescribed by a doctor, the usage is tracked and therefore fitting; however, many use the drug for recreational purposes, which leads to excessive usage and abuse of the drug. The opioid fentanyl is made and used illegally.
In some cases, people use the drug unknowingly– harming children, teenagers, and adults. Read to find out more about the brutal dangers of fentanyl.
Side Effects
The side effects inflict dizziness and drowsiness, preventing one from having full awareness: and alertness. Below are more side effects. 
- Extreme happiness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Sedation
- Problems breathing
- Unconsciousness
Precautions
At parties, alcohol and drugs are often mixed together: this should be avoided. If processed, nausea, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination can occur. In addition to causing a risk of internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing.
How does it work?
Adding alcohol prevents the drug from functioning well, therefore making it less effective or useless. Sometimes
Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.
Often, supplements and drugs will be interchanged with a synonym, allowing a disguise for the holding or using of a drug. Here are other names for fentanyl and what to watch for:
- Actiq
- Duragesic
- Sublimaze
When The Unexpected Should Be The Expected
Numerous drug dealers mix the cheaper fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine, allowing them to increase profit margins; therefore, aiding a specific drug overdose may be more difficult than thought to be played out.
Surprisingly, the drug fentanyl is odorless, merely giving it to be undetected. Although, with test strips, it can be found in traces of opioids.
When someone overdoses on fentanyl, their breathing quickens or slows down. Essentially, the drug is decreasing the amount of oxygen that the brain is able to reach, this is called hypoxia. In serious cases, hypoxia can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, or death.
Simply using fentanyl does not make you addicted to it at first, but rather the continuous use of it. Like any other drug, food, or item, addiction can begin which leads to abusive use. Not in all cases does this happen to people, some can be dependent without being addicted, but this doesn’t run true for everyone.
How to treat an overdose
Firstly, the important thing is to call 911, so the person can seek medical attention in the proper manner.
Naloxone is a medicine that can treat a fentanyl overdose when given right away. It quickly binds to opioid receptors and blocks the effects of opioid drugs. Due to fentanyl being a stronger drug than most, like morphine, the dosage of naloxone may need to be increased. There are two forms: as an injectable (needle) solution and nasal sprays (NARCAN and KLOXXADO). Once given, ensure supervision for the following two hours. During this time, track their breathing, to make sure their breathing is not slowing or quickening.
Sources:
MeiLi is a WCHS senior; this is her first-time reporting for The Jacket Journal. She has run for four years on WCHS’s cross-country team. She is a driven...
