What Is Fentanyl?

Since 2000, the United States has seen a considerable rise in the number of overdose deaths. In fact, the government says that the country is in the middle of an opioid epidemic. While many opioids contribute to this epidemic, fentanyl is a major player. However, what is fentanyl?

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s very similar to heroin. The most significant difference between fentanyl and heroin is that pharmaceutical companies make fentanyl legally. That’s right, a drug as addictive as heroin is one that doctors prescribe.

What’s the point of prescribing this addictive drug in the first place? Most doctors use it to help people deal with chronic pain. For example, they administer fentanyl after surgery. Sometimes fentanyl patches control localized pain, as well.

Unfortunately, it’s possible to develop an addiction even when people take the drug as their doctors prescribe. To make matters worse, everyone develops an addiction at different rates. What works for one individual might give another a drug dependency.

100 Times More Potent Than Morphine

One reason people develop a dependency on fentanyl so quickly is because of its potency. The drug is around 50 to 100 times as potent as morphine.

However, some people also make fentanyl illegally, and it’s even stronger than the legal version. The chemical variation can be 10,000 times more potent than morphine. This strength can easily kill someone with just one dose.

The Link Between Fentanyl and Heroin

Fentanyl and heroin produce a similar high. Both drugs are opioids.
However, prescription drugs tend to cost a lot on the street. When people develop an addiction to a particular drug, they try to support the habit for as long as possible. Because of the high cost of prescription fentanyl, it doesn’t take long for people to look for a cheaper but similar high.

That’s when they turn to heroin. This drug checks all of the boxes that they want. It’s similar enough to fentanyl that it produces the same high. Also, it’s cheaper to buy on the street.

Don’t Let Fentanyl Addiction Ruin Your Life

Now that you know more about what is fentanyl, you understand the dangers of this drug. As a result, you can conclude that finding a fentanyl addiction treatment program is vital for fentanyl abuse. At Beaches Recovery, we offer several programs to treat fentanyl addiction, including:

• Detox at our own Tides Edge
• Opiate addiction treatment
• Partial hospitalization programs
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Individual and group therapy
• Intensive outpatient program

Don’t become the next opioid overdose statistic. Learn more about what is fentanyl? Call Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532 to take a stand against your fentanyl addiction.