Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller. It is offered to victims who are undergoing severe pain or injured. It is also given to an individual after undergoing surgery to relieve them from pain. It is also made illegally, and used as a recreational drug, which is often mixed with heroin. or cocaine. It has a rapid onset of action 5 minutes and effects generally last less than an hour or two. It has brought relief to many people who are suffering significant pain as a consequence of diseases such as cancer. But because of its capacity to produce a high euphoric when abused, many individuals have become addicted to fentanyl, soon requiring larger doses and more frequent use to accomplish the desired effect. The degree and rate at which fentanyl is absorbed into a body are 33% (ingestion), 50% (buccal), 89% (intranasal), 92% (transdermal) and 100% (intramuscular) and the formula of fentanyl is C22H28N2O

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Fentanyl is 40-50 times more potent than heroin and 50-100 times more powerful than morphine.

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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

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