Discarded fentanyl patches may still contain significant amounts of the drug. This can result in misuse if someone removes the gel contents from discarded patches. Over time, however, the brain adapts to fentanyl, making it difficult for someone to experience positive emotions without the drug. Families watching a loved one struggle with fentanyl use face an agonizing reality — every day of continued use carries the risk of fatal overdose. The Fenty Fold serves as a visible reminder that the window for intervention may be rapidly closing. Dependence can cause extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using it.
Symptoms Of Fentanyl Addiction
- This controls the body’s systems of breathing, heart rate, and consciousness.
- Not only is it usually considered a sign of fentanyl abuse, but it can also be a sign of a possible overdose.
- Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States.
- One hundred times stronger than anything in nature, fentanyl makes it harder to get onto treatment medicines than any other opioid.
- Inpatient treatment can provide you with a safe environment where you can detox and learn the tools necessary for a healthy recovery.
Many individuals who witness someone in this posture may assume they’re simply asleep or mildly impaired, not realizing the gravity of the situation. Doctors and addiction specialists also link the fold to central nervous system (CNS) depression, a hallmark effect of opioid use. This results in muscle weakness, decreased coordination, and an inability to maintain an upright posture. A person locked in a bent, unresponsive state—the fentanyl fold. Fentanyl may cause serious harm or death if used accidentally by a child or by an adult who has not been prescribed the medication.
Seeing The Fold, Understanding The Crisis
Whether it is inpatient or outpatient, fentanyl addiction treatment often involves a combination of therapy, counseling, support groups, and holistic practices. MAT incorporates FDA-approved medications to reduce cravings and rebalance brain chemistry. It is often combined with other forms of treatment (such as individual therapy) to help those with a history of relapse or overdose. Recognizing the fentanyl fold is one piece of a broader public health strategy centered on harm reduction.
For families, knowing how to respond in an emergency with tools like naloxone is a strong first move. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Fentanyl should be used along with your other pain medication(s).
Hope Through Treatment and Harm Reduction
When used, fentanyl quickly binds to opioid receptors in the brain, producing intense feelings of euphoria and pain relief. This effect can lead to both physical and psychological dependence, even with short-term use. If you or someone you know is showing these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help immediately. Users and family members should have immediate access to naloxone (Narcan), an opioid agonist medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose. All research on the Coastal Detox website, including images, texts, and graphics, is strictly for informational purposes. Please do not ignore information from your doctor because of something you saw on the Coastal Detox website.
Creating a Recovery-Supportive Environment
When someone enters the fentanyl fold, they may look like they’re “just out of it. But they may actually be slipping into respiratory arrest, a state where the body maintains a pulse but is not breathing. One of the more distinctive side effects of fentanyl use is something called the “Fentanyl fold.” Fentanyl fold is a term used to describe what happens to a person’s posture when they have ingested fentanyl. Not only is it usually considered a sign of fentanyl abuse, but it can also be a sign of a possible overdose. Someone experiencing the fentanyl fold often appears unnaturally frozen in a slumped or hunched position, sometimes still standing. In contrast, someone sleeping typically has regular breathing and can be awakened.
If you or a loved one are looking to stop taking fentanyl, it is crucial that the process be done under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals by undergoing medically supervised detox. This can be done at a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment center that also offers detox services like Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery. In the case of fentanyl addiction, early detection and treatment can quite literally be the difference between life and death. When administered medically, one of the intended effects of opioids is muscle relaxation.
For instance, there have been reports of purple fentanyl, a form of the drug mixed with various substances that create a distinctive color. fentanyl fold This contamination increases overdose risk because users may be unaware of what they are consuming, including potent substances like carfentanil. Understanding what is carfentanil—a substance even more powerful than fentanyl—helps illustrate the lethal danger of opioids. While using fentanyl, you should talk to your doctor about having a rescue medication called naloxone readily available (e.g., home, office). Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.
Rather than referring to packaging or drug distribution, the term describes a specific and deeply concerning physical posture seen in those under the influence of synthetic opioids. Individuals experiencing the fentanyl fold appear bent sharply at the waist, slumped forward in a rigid and unnatural position. Their heads hang low, their knees may be slightly bent, and they are often completely unresponsive to their surroundings. In addition to receiving treatment for a substance use disorder, people who use illegal drugs can help prevent overdoses by using fentanyl test strips. These are low-cost paper strips that can detect fentanyl in all kinds and forms of substances.
Why do people take fentanyl?
Users who are not accustomed to opioids may experience intense and dangerous side effects, even with small amounts. If you or someone you care about is struggling with fentanyl or other opioids, don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out to Avenues Recovery Center today and take the first step toward safety, stability, and a life free from addiction.
The Risks of Fentanyl Abuse
Although healthcare professionals consider fentanyl safe and effective when a person uses it in a monitored medical setting, the drug carries a high potential for misuse, also known as amphetamine addiction treatment abuse. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Drugs mixed with fentanyl are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs contain it. After detox, residential treatment provides a structured environment for recovery.