Doctors and Users Explain Why Fentanyl Users Are Hunched Over So Often

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If someone has experienced an overdose from an opioid, including fentanyl, call and administer naloxone. It is safe to touch the person and items that may have fentanyl on them (like a doorknob) because fentanyl cannot be absorbed through the skin with casual use (Connolly, 2022). “In health care, we dose fentanyl in micrograms,” explains Halfway house Amanda N. Donald, MD, an addiction medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine. Because fentanyl is so potent and commonly found in the drug supply, it is easy for people to accidentally overdose on fentanyl.

fentanyl stance

Center for Health Statistics and Informatics

There is no set amount that is considered lethal because how the drug affects you depends on several factors such as your body size and tolerance. As little as 2 milligrams or less may cause death, which is about the size of a few grains of salt. Withdrawal symptoms typically start within 12 hours after your last dose of the drug. The first 3 days are the hardest, with the most severe symptoms.

  • No one’s sure why drug cartels have changed their mixtures.
  • One user they spoke to, who had taken the drug hours earlier but remained bent over, was asked if he was able to stand up straight.
  • The exact duration can vary based on factors such as the user’s metabolism, the amount used, and the frequency of use.
  • From May 2020 to April 2021, more than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, with over 64 percent of these deaths due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogs.

Senior Health

This posture occurs as the drug depresses the nervous system, leading to muscle rigidity, fading awareness, and dangerously slowed breathing, signaling a significant risk of overdose. Fentanyl is a potent opioid that offers pain relief to those fentanyl stance who live with severe acute or chronic pain conditions. A healthcare professional may prescribe it to treat severe pain.

How To Help Someone With Opioid Use Disorder

The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. Recovery Guide LLC does not endorse any treatment provider, and we do not guarantee the quality of care, outcomes, or results from any treatment program listed or advertised on our site. All information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Supporting someone with addiction also means helping them stay safe while they work toward recovery.