Unlike previous opioid crises, fentanyl’s extreme potency leaves virtually no margin for error. People who previously used other opioids safely may find themselves in life-threatening situations when they unknowingly encounter fentanyl. marijuana addiction Due to the severity of fentanyl withdrawal symptoms, detox should be conducted under medical supervision. Symptoms can include intense cravings, anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues. Moreover, fentanyl’s severe impact on respiratory function contributes to this behavior. The drug can cause significant respiratory depression, leading to dizziness and lightheadedness.
Overdose
- If you have naloxone (Narcan), use it right away by following the instructions on the package.
- A person taking prescribed fentanyl can experience dependence, meaning they have withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug.
- Call your doctor if you experience more than four episodes of breakthrough pain per day or if you have new pain or an increased sensitivity to pain during your treatment with fentanyl.
- For instance, there have been reports of purple fentanyl, a form of the drug mixed with various substances that create a distinctive color.
Aftercare includes sober living homes, 12-step meetings, alumni programs, and regular check-ins with counselors to maintain accountability and motivation. The fold itself is a symptom, but what’s happening underneath—slowed breathing, reduced oxygen to the brain, and potential seizures—can cause lasting neurological damage. Repeated hypoxic episodes may lead to memory loss, impaired coordination, mood disorders, or reduced fentanyl fold cognitive ability. That’s why even “non-lethal” folds require follow-up care and neurological evaluation.
Fentanyl Fold Connection to Overdose
When someone displays the Fenty Fold, their body is experiencing severe respiratory depression and altered consciousness. Fentanyl’s potency — estimated to be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine — overwhelms the brain’s ability to regulate essential functions like breathing and heart rate. Understanding what the Fenty Fold indicates and why it occurs can help families, first responders and healthcare providers recognize when someone needs emergency medical intervention. More importantly, recognizing this sign underscores the critical need for comprehensive addiction treatment for anyone struggling with fentanyl use. One of the most dangerous effects of fentanyl is respiratory depression. The drug significantly slows down breathing, sometimes to a life-threatening level.
What Is The “Fent Fold” Or “Fentanyl Lean”?
Nodding Off is a strange and often disturbing side effect of heavy opiates, most notably Fentanyl, where the user “bends” or “folds” at the waist. This loss of motor control reflects the powerful and dangerous depressant effects that Fentanyl puts on the body. People who use drugs might not be aware they are taking fentanyl, yet the reality is that fentanyl-laced drugs are prevalent. In 2022, the DEA seized more than 50 million street pills laced with fentanyl — more than twice as many in 2021.
How many people have died of fentanyl poisoning in Arizona and the United States?
The “fentanyl fold” describes a severe state of opioid intoxication where an individual is bent over at the waist, often in a rigid and unresponsive posture. Their head is typically bowed, knees bent, and they appear stuck, unable to move or respond to their surroundings. The visibility of the fentanyl fold in public places, parks, sidewalks, and transit hubs reinforces negative stereotypes about drug users. When New Jersey residents see these scenes, it triggers fear or judgment rather than compassion.
How does social media contribute to the stigma surrounding the fentanyl fold?
Producers of illicit fentanyl add it to or substitute it for other street drugs to increase profits and the potential for addiction — which keeps their customers coming back for more. In case of overdose, remove the fentanyl from the victim’s mouth and call local emergency services at 911. You must immediately dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed through a medicine take-back program.. If you do not have a take-back program nearby or one that you can access promptly, then flush the fentanyl down the toilet so that others will not take it.
As they continue to seek a solution for their pain, fentanyl often fills the gap as a cheaper, easier-to-obtain alternative, leading to a cycle of addiction that supersedes most everything else in their life. On social media platforms, videos and memes of people in the fentanyl fold sometimes go viral. These clips often carry mocking tones, reducing a life-threatening moment to entertainment, and further stigmatizing a disease that is already stigmatized enough. A person experiencing the fentanyl fold is at high risk of an overdose, injury, or even death if they don’t receive urgent medical intervention. The Chronicle also spoke to several fentanyl users about the slouch, which gives insight into how people end up using the drug on the streets.
Naloxone can reverse the effects of fentanyl and restore normal breathing, but it may require multiple doses due to fentanyl’s potency. Their heads are bowed, their knees are bent, and they are often unable to respond or move. It’s a symptom of the fentanyl crisis and a sign of how deeply a person has https://nofake.eu/how-to-break-the-cycle-of-addiction/ been affected by one of the most potent synthetic opioids in existence. Understanding what the fentanyl fold is, and why it matters, could help save a life—maybe even your own or someone you love. Helping someone with opioid addiction starts with understanding that addiction is a medical condition, not a choice.
- After a fentanyl treatment, you may have side effects that hinder your thinking and reactions or cause dizziness or drowsiness.
- The drug’s potency means that even tiny amounts — equivalent to just a few grains of salt — can cause fatal overdoses.
- You’ll benefit from our continuing guidance and encouragement as you adapt to life as a sober person.
- Central nervous system (CNS) depression is the primary reason the fent fold happens.
- Many people ingest fentanyl unknowingly because it is almost impossible to detect its presence when mixed with another substance.
Moving Mountains Recovery, based in Randolph, New Jersey, offers a comprehensive and unique approach to addiction recovery. To explore additional treatment options, you can view editorially selected providers on our site or visit the SAMHSA Treatment Locator. Calling the number is free and confidential, but treatment services may involve costs depending on your insurance coverage and the level of care required. Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider. Heroin, derived from the opium poppy, shares many of these effects, providing a euphoric high that users don’t want to interrupt by reclining too much. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission.