Stay with them and be ready to give another dose of naloxone if they don’t wake up, as fentanyl drug addiction treatment is so strong that it often requires multiple doses. It’s also important to take note of the name of the drug taken or show the packaging to paramedics. This is helpful because illegal street drugs are often cut with other substances that may be contributing to overdose. The fentanyl fold describes the characteristic posture adopted by individuals under the influence of fentanyl or other powerful opioids.
What to Do If You Witness the Fentanyl Fold
- Seeing the fentanyl fold is a clear sign of severe opioid intoxication.
- It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been mixed with fentanyl unless you test your drugs with fentanyl test strips.
- In many cases, the individual looks as though their upper body has collapsed forward, creating what many describe as the bent spine that fentanyl produces during intoxication.
- On social media platforms, videos and memes of people in the fentanyl fold sometimes go viral.
The bent spine that fentanyl causes is often one of the last visible warnings before a fatal overdose. The devastation fentanyl has wrought across families and communities underscores the importance of early intervention. Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? It’s vital to approach these situations with compassion, understanding that the person in the fentanyl fold is facing a medical crisis, not simply making a choice.
- Furthermore, people mix fentanyl with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and cough medications.
- Physical therapy is often recommended to restore function and strengthen the body after such incidents.
- Both methadone, a long-acting synthetic opioid, and buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, are key components of medication-assisted treatment protocols.
- The fact that someone has survived to this point represents an opportunity that may not come again — fentanyl’s unpredictability makes each use potentially fatal.
- Knowing how long fentanyl stays in the system can help in managing withdrawal symptoms and planning for detoxification.
Treatment Programs
People will also display a rocking or teetering motion as they struggle to regain balance, this motion reflects the fentanyl fold bodies inability to stay alert while under the influence of Fentanyl. The fentanyl fold is a visible sign of a life-threatening addiction, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With proper treatment, support, and commitment to recovery, individuals can overcome fentanyl addiction and rebuild fulfilling, healthy lives. While fentanyl addiction is extremely serious and potentially deadly, recovery is possible with proper treatment and support. The fentanyl fold and other signs of intoxication represent opportunities for intervention and the beginning of a recovery journey.
- Repeated hypoxic episodes may lead to memory loss, impaired coordination, mood disorders, or reduced cognitive ability.
- Learning about addiction and how it affects the brain can help you be more supportive and less judgmental.
- Narcan is a medication that can reverse an overdose and save someone’s life.
- While jarring to witness, the fenty fold has become a sad yet common phenomenon in cities like San Francisco and Baltimore, where fentanyl use has grown rampant alongside the growing nationwide trend.
- Synthetic opioids sold illicitly can be mixed with heroin or cocaine, which amplifies its potency and potential danger.
Managing Opioid Withdrawal
Recognizing Fentanyl is important as it can be added to other drugs to increase potency. Because of its high potency, the transition from drug use to life-threatening respiratory depression can occur within minutes. Fentanyl related overdoses have become increasingly common and require immediate intervention.
When someone nods off on fentanyl, the sedative effects are so strong that their body shuts down while they’re somewhat awake. This happens when the brain can no longer send signals to the muscles about how to stay upright. If available, administer naloxone (often known as Narcan), a medication that temporarily reverses opioid overdose effects by blocking opioid receptors. Naloxone can be given as a nasal spray or injection, and it is safe to administer even if an opioid overdose is not certain. If they are not breathing, provide rescue breaths by tilting their head back, pinching their nose, and breathing into their mouth once every five seconds. Even if naloxone is administered and the person revives, medical attention remains important because fentanyl is potent, and its effects can last longer than naloxone, potentially leading to a re-overdose.
In an attempt to stabilize themselves and improve breathing, users might bend over involuntarily. Nearly 108,000 persons in the U.S. died https://www.zisltd.com/why-no-alcohol-after-mohs-surgery-dr-mendese/ from drug-involved overdose in 2022, underscoring the critical need for awareness and effective treatment interventions. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and significantly more potent than heroin or oxycodone.
