Educate Yourself & Others
3 Warning Signs of Fentanyl Misuse
Sniffles Because many fentanyl and opioid abusers typically start off by crushing and snorting pills, it irritates their mucus membranes and causes persistent runny noses or sniffles.
Straws Tubes made from broken mechanical pencil and pen parts, plastic straws, glass tubes, metal tubes, and rolled-up paper are all used to snort powdered drugs. They can usually be found in purses, pockets, backpacks, cars, nightstands...anywhere handy. If there is any powder residue in the straw DON'T TOUCH IT.
Sleepy Does your loved one often seem drowsy? Does she sleep during normal waking hours? Does she have trouble keeping her eyes open? She's possibly high.
Most people encounter Fentanyl accidentally the 1st time they take it. They may get high and be fine. They may overdose immediately. Addiction takes hold quickly if they survive the first pill.
Fake Fentanyl pills are being found in South Mississippi regularly in drug busts. Check out the local news blog for details. Pills could resemble Xanax, pain pills, ecstasy, or edibles such as gummies.
Can You tell the difference?
Fake Pills
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.
There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.
However, 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 more dangerous. Source: CDC
What is Fentanyl?
What Fentanyl is NOT
Fentanyl, if used as intended, is not "bad." Hattiesburg doctor, Dr. Carr McClain, says
"Fentanyl itself is not the problem. Legal, regulated, properly administered fentanyl kills no one. Unlabeled, black-market fentanyl, which only exists because of the prohibition of other popular drugs, now kills thousands every year."
His full article, "I Give People Fentanyl. We’ve Misdiagnosed the Overdose Crisis" can be found HERE.
He compares the fentanyl situation now to that of alcohol during prohibition. Alcohol couldn't be legally produced or sold, so more potent/dangerous liquors were made by unqualified people. There was a huge demand for the product and buyers were forced into the black market, and many got sick and died as a result. The abundance of legislation that came to be as a result of opioid prescriptions being pushed on the population, had the unintended effect of creating a black market for fentanyl- because it's easier and cheaper to produce than the original pills..
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are sometimes even more obvious than symptoms of use because chances are, an addict will probably take efforts to not appear high in front of others. Withdrawal symptoms can sometimes start appearing as soon as the most recent "high" has worn off.
Look for:
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shaking or trembling
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poor appetite
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nausea or vomiting
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fatigue
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headaches
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sweating
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fever
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seizures
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irritability or other mood changes
Psychological / Behavioral Symptoms
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Paranoia: Certain drugs tend to cause paranoia during use. Cocaine, amphetamines, and hallucinogens, in particular, may cause paranoia.
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Panic Attacks: Stimulants tend to cause panic attacks. Other people who abuse substances feel intense anxiety. That anxious feeling often occurs when the person worries about having that next drink or getting their hands on more drugs.
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Inability to Focus: Focusing while under the influence is often challenging. Even when not under actively abusing, an addict typically thinks about the substance of choice that it is difficult to focus on anything else.
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Poor Decision-making: The changes to the brain caused by substance abuse often interfere with decision-making and exercising good judgment. The person may have difficulty thinking clearly even when not under the influence.
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Rationalizing Substance Abuse: Addiction causes a strong urge to engage in substance abuse. Addicts often find ways to rationalize drug use or deny that the addiction causes any problems.
Physical Evidence
Addicts sometimes get careless and leave evidence of their drug use in plain sight. Some items wouldn't cause alarm if you didn't know what you were looking at.
Dollar bills that have been rolled up, broken mechanical pencils, or drinking straws can often be found in an addict's purse, pockets, or backpack.
Additional Warning Signs of Misuse
Physical Symptoms
Eyes: Drug and alcohol use often shows itself in the eyes, which may look red or bloodshot due to the offensive chemicals in the system. Some addicts may try to cover up those signs by using eye drops excessively. Dilated pupils or a glassy appearance can also indicate substance abuse.
Nose: The individual may sniffle or have a runny nose without any medical cause. They may also have frequent bloody noses.
Skin: The skin may appear pale or ashen.
Weight Change: Drug or alcohol use may cause sudden weight gain or loss. Clothes may fit differently. Many drugs stimulate energy, causing the person to go nonstop without feeling the need to eat or sleep, which can lead to significant weight loss.
Body Odor/Dental Decline: Addiction sometimes causes people to neglect basic hygiene tasks. Because of this poor personal hygiene, body odors and bad breath may occur.
Substance Odor: The scent of the substance, either on the breath or on clothing, is another potential warning sign. Some addicts may try to cover up those odors by using breath mints or gum. Addicts sometimes use perfume or other scented products to mask the odors on clothes.
Lack of Coordination: Being under the influence may cause coordination or balance issues.
Slurred Speech: Some people experience slurred speech or other changes in speech patterns while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Bruises or Infections: The injection site for certain drugs may appear bruised or infected. Other bruises or injuries can also happen due to the loss of coordination while under the influence.
Frequent Illness: Whether or not the addict is actually ill, they may often say they are sick to cover up the ill feelings often caused by drug and alcohol abuse. They may also use sickness as an excuse to miss work to spend more time drinking or doing drugs
Sreet Names of Fentanyl
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Apache
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Dance Fever
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Friend
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Goodfellas
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Jackpot
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Murder 8
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Tango & Cash