Fentanyl
Fentanyl Information & Detection
Fentanyl is a powerful prescription opioid used to treat severe pain. Rates of fentanyl abuse have escalated in recent years, leading to an increase in overdoses and deaths. Some fentanyl is diverted from medical purposes for illicit use; however, much of the street supply of fentanyl is manufactured illicitly. Protect yourself from the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl will usually show up on a urine test between 24-72 hours after last use. Hair tests can detect the drug for up to 3 months, and blood tests can detect it between 5 and 48 hours after use depending on the dose.
Overdose is a serious concern with fentanyl, particularly since it is often combined with other substances. People who become addicted often require treatment with medications and/or therapy to help them quit using.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is prescribed to treat severe pain, such as advanced cancer pain or chronic pain in patients who are tolerant to other, less potent opioids. It is approximately 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
According to the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, synthetic opioids, primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl, continue to account for the majority of opioid-involved overdose deaths in the United States based on the most recent provisional data.
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is available in several forms, including transdermal patch, lozenge, nasal spray, tablet, and injectable solution. Illicit fentanyl is usually found in powder form, pressed into counterfeit pills, or mixed with other drugs. People may swallow, snort, or inject illicit fentanyl.
Fentanyl overdoses remain a significant public health concern. Reports from the CDC indicate that increases in overdose deaths are largely driven by illicitly manufactured fentanyl and counterfeit pills. The difference between a safe dose and one that can cause an overdose is small, and fentanyl is often mixed with other substances without the user’s knowledge.
How Does It Work?
Fentanyl, like other opioids, binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain, affecting areas involved in pain and pleasure. It also impacts parts of the brain controlling breathing, and a higher dose can slow respiration to a life-threatening level.
Some side effects of fentanyl use include:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Constricted pupils
- Urinary retention
- Respiratory depression
When Will Fentanyl Show Up on a Drug Test?
Fentanyl Drug Test Kits may be used for employment screening, legal investigations, or clinical monitoring.
While fentanyl’s effects may last only a few hours, traces of the drug can remain in the body longer. Detection time varies based on dose, frequency of use, metabolism, and test type. Urine tests may detect fentanyl for 24-72 hours after last use. Norfentanyl may be detected longer depending on the laboratory method. Hair tests may reflect prior use for up to 3 months. Blood tests generally detect fentanyl within hours to a couple of days after last use. Saliva testing is not consistently reliable for detecting fentanyl or its metabolites.
What Happens if You Take Too Much?
Fentanyl’s potency makes overdose a serious risk, particularly if it is combined with alcohol or benzodiazepines. The National Institute on Drug Abuse warns that combining opioids with other central nervous system depressants increases the risk of fatal respiratory depression.
Signs of overdose include:
- Severely slowed or stopped breathing
- Blue lips or skin
- Cold, clammy skin
- Constricted pupils
- Loss of consciousness
An overdose can be fatal. Medical professionals can administer naloxone, an opioid receptor blocker that reverses an opioid overdose.
How Can You Safely Stop Taking Fentanyl?
Treatment may include FDA-approved medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, along with behavioral therapies. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly used approaches in treating opioid use disorder.
If you are concerned about fentanyl misuse or opioid dependence, treatment resources are available nationwide.