What is fentanyl?
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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
It is a prescription drug; however, it is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, such as after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids.
Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and extremely more dangerous. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose, and two milligrams is so small it can fit on the tip of the pencil.
According to the Psychiatric Times, “Close to 1 million individuals have died from drug overdoses since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids remain the main driver of drug overdose deaths today, with 82.3% involving fentanyl or a similar synthetic opioid. Fentanyl is largely undetectable and is often cut into drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and fake prescription pills including opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines, like Xanax.” And according to the CDC, “Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.”
Fentanyl impacts the brain by binding to the body’s opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives. The effects of fentanyl include: extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, problems breathing and unconsciousness. When an individual overdoses they experience symptoms including decreased level of consciousness, slowed breathing, lack of response to stimulation, and constricted pupils. Peak respiratory depression can occur in 5 minutes or less.
So, what impact has Fentanyl had in the State of Wyoming? Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist reported in an article on October 13, 2022, “The increase over the last couple of years in overdose deaths is partially due to an increase in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths,” Harrist said. “In fact, between 2018 and 2021 the number of synthetic opioid-involved fatal overdoses among residents of our state more than quadrupled while the deaths connected with most other opioids stayed relatively stable.”
The reality is that fentanyl is now everywhere. No community is safe from this poison. From large cities, to small rural areas like Worland, Wyoming, it is there. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose deaths that are claiming multiple American lives every day, and work to end the stigma of getting help for addiction related issues.
People with substance use disorders and people in recovery are more likely to seek substance abuse treatment and maintain sobriety when they develop social connections. Isolation, discrimination and prejudice are obstacles to social inclusion.
You can contribute to reducing stigma and promoting social inclusion by treating people affected by a substance use disorder with respect, learning about the science of mental health conditions and addiction, educating others who have misconceptions about substance use disorders and mental illness, and supporting resources for people affected by mental illness and addiction.
