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Fentanyl is one of the most potent and dangerous drugs today. It’s important to understand what fentanyl looks like and why it poses such a high risk to anyone who encounters it. This knowledge can help people stay safe and avoid accidental exposure, addiction, or overdose.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used by doctors to treat severe pain, especially for people recovering from surgery or dealing with cancer pain. It is part of a larger group of drugs known as prescription opioids, which are sometimes given to patients when other pain medicines do not work. It is vital to note that fentanyl is much stronger (50 to 100 times more potent) than morphine, another common pain medication.
There is also illegal fentanyl that is made in secret labs and sold on the streets. This type is much more dangerous because it is often mixed with other substances, and people might not know they are taking it.
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in deaths caused by fentanyl overdoses. According to the CDC, fentanyl is now responsible for a large percentage of opioid-related deaths in the United States.
One reason for this is the small amount needed for it to be deadly. Just two milligrams, an amount that could fit on the tip of a pencil, can cause an overdose. Because of this, it is necessary to focus on overdose prevention, including knowing how to use naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
Fentanyl can appear in many forms, making it hard to identify:
Illicit fentanyl is not just found on its own; it is often mixed with other street drugs. Drug traffickers mix it with methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine or even make it into fake pills that look like other prescription drugs.
This is done to increase profits, but it greatly raises the risk of overdose. Just a tiny amount of fentanyl can be deadly, even for people who think they are taking a different drug.
Fentanyl is extremely addictive because it causes a powerful high very quickly. This rapid effect on the brain can make people want to use it repeatedly, leading to addiction. People who become addicted to fentanyl often need professional help to recover.
Mountain View Retreat provides a supportive environment for those seeking to recover from fentanyl addiction. Offering a PHP program tailored to individual needs and focusing on holistic and natural healing, the compassionate team at Mountain View Retreat provides the tools needed for a safe and successful recovery journey.
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