Fentanyl Increasingly Cause Of Death For North Carolinians

Fentanyl, a drug that can be 50 to 100 times the potency of other opioids like morphine, has grown to be the biggest killer during the drug epidemic. Research shows that fentanyl contributed to the deaths of over 3,000 North Carolinians last year, but many people who use drugs aren’t aware of its prevalence. Some people who use drugs like cocaine or Molly, for example, don’t expect there to be a deadly addition of fentanyl to the mix. But, for users who never take opioids, this can be deadly. Even people who use lower-dose opioids are at risk of respiratory depression and death.

Why Is Fentanyl So Dangerous in North Carolina?

Fentanyl is a dangerous drug not only because it is highly addictive but also because of the hazard it poses to non-opioid users. While the news may exaggerate the danger of opioid deaths, some paramedics and police have suffered opioid overdose through mere touch or inhalation of the drug. Yet it’s a highly trafficked drug across the country, with many users in North Carolina.

Fentanyl was initially formulated for severe pain and sedation. So, it’s no surprise it can be so dangerous in a naïve drug user’s hand. However, even people who use opioids regularly have overdosed on particularly potent versions of the drug. Because illicit fentanyl is manufactured in illegal lab settings, standardization, and quality control testing are not a part of it. One batch a user gets may be so weak they take more than they usually would. Another week, the batch on the street may be super-potent and cause overdoses.

Fentanyl Misuse, Addiction, and Recovery

No drug on the street can be considered safe or standardized. This is why many people in North Carolina and across the US have ended up in the hospital or grave due to fentanyl overdoses. Fentanyl is a drug that is typically used in hospitals for a reason. Only a professional doctor can choose a safe and reasonable dosage.

For people who misuse fentanyl or use it recreationally, there can be dramatic withdrawal effects. The longer and more an opioid that a person uses, the harsher the withdrawal effects in most cases. Medication-Assisted Treatment can be highly effective for opioid users, but they must be monitored carefully for side effect intensity. People who use fentanyl recreationally often suffer harsher effects than people who use Oxy or heroin.

Medication-Assisted Treatment is considered the gold standard for treatment by the FDA. The medication can help prevent relapse and cravings. During the initial stages of sobriety, a person on medication will also begin participating in therapy. Much of this may be one-on-one, but most people also find 12-step peer groups essential to staying sober one day at a time. Opioid use disorder is both treatable and manageable.

Getting Help In North Carolina

If you or somebody you know is struggling with fentanyl addiction, we’re here to help! Getting and staying sober is the first step to recovery. MAT can make it easier for you to concentrate on your next steps in sobriety. Get in touch to learn more about treatment options by calling us at 910-295-7246 to learn how we can help you break free from addiction.