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How Does Fentanyl Work

The brain is structured like a road, and the drivers are substances called neurotransmitters. The main function of a neurotransmitter is to communicate chemical messages. Neurotransmitters do so by docking on a receptor site, similarly to key in a lock. Some neurotransmitters fit certain receptor sites and when a neurotransmitter which matches on a receptor site it will instruct that site on what to do.

When the opioids bind themselves with receptors, they increase the dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system. It is the system that instructs humans to do more things that are useful or pleasurable for the self. For example, when you eat sweet like chocolate, you will have the same feeling of satisfaction and happiness which makes you want to taste again.

When opioids like Fentanyl mess up the brain’s reward system and affects the brain are similar to heroin, but even more powerful, and in addition to euphoria and relaxation. It means that there are no real stimuli that triggered the feeling of satisfaction or happiness in a person and other indications of the consequences of Fentanyl can involve nausea, drowsiness, sedation, disorientation, respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, unconsciousness, and even death

 

Signs And Symptoms Of Fentanyl Abuse

Fentanyl is one that is commonly abused, both intentionally and unintentionally. There are some important physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral changes that set in when one develops a chemical dependency and it can be detected in a person’s behavior and bodily state and fentanyl may demonstrate many signs and symptoms, including the following

Physical Signs And Symptoms Of Fentanyl Addiction

 

 

  • Shallow or labored breathing
  • Reduced heart rate
  • Gastrointestinal distress
  • Whirling sensation
  • Dysentery
  • Swollen feet and hands
  • Weakness
  • Slowdowns inhaling
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Nause

Behavioral Signs And Symptoms Of Fentanyl Addiction

 

 

  • Continuing to abuse fentanyl or fentanyl derivatives despite difficulties caused by this type of substance abuse.
  • Substance abuse behaviors ( such as constantly talking or thinking about using or obtaining fentanyl, doctor shopping and stealing money or goods to buy fentanyl)
  • They may sleep every day, and lose friends, relationships, and jobs in the process.
  • Being unable to control the frequency and amount of one’s drug-seeking.
  • Engaging in reckless, risky, or otherwise dangerous behaviors.

 

 

Cognitive Signs And Symptoms Of Fentanyl Addiction

 

 

  • Inability to concentrate
  • Impaired awareness
  • Disorientation
  • Obsessive interest in finding more of the drug
  • Serious cravings for the drug
  • Suicidal mentation

 

Psychosocial Signs And Symptoms Of Fentanyl Addiction

 

 

  • Anxiety
  • Distress
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Mental illness
  • Mood fluctuation
  • Euphoria 
  • Dysphoria

Statistics Of Fentanyl Addiction

According to statistics collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the yearly rate of death from synthetic opioids along with fentanyl and synthetic derivatives of fentanyl raised by 80% between 2013 and 2014. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has stated that within the period of 20-year in   1991 and 2011, the annual estimate of painkiller prescriptions recorded in the United States rose from 76 million to 219 million, an addition of more than 288%. In 2013 and 2014, more than 13 million painkiller medicines were written for fentanyl. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the annual number of deaths among women that were addicted to prescription painkiller overdose increased by more than 400% through the initial decade of the 21st century.

 

Know more: https://www.addictionaide.com/addiction/fentanyl-addiction