Dependence can cause extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using it. Professional intervention services can help families navigate the complex process of getting their loved one into treatment. Given fentanyl’s dangers, waiting for the person to “hit bottom” or seek help independently may mean waiting too long.
Support Groups
The ongoing fentanyl crisis has highlighted just how dangerous synthetic opioids can be. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful drug—50 to 100 times stronger than morphine—and only a tiny amount can cause fatal respiratory depression or sudden drug overdoses. Because fentanyl is often mixed with other substances, many fentanyl users don’t realize how much they are consuming, which contributes to rising overdose deaths across the country. One highly recognizable effect of fentanyl use is known as the “fentanyl fold.” Understanding this sign—and knowing what to do if you see it—can save lives. The central nervous system depression caused by fentanyl can lead to various physical manifestations, including the characteristic bending over observed in many users.
Breathing difficulties
However, this is not a reliable indicator of whether a person is taking real fentanyl or not. People who take fentanyl may develop a tolerance to high doses, meaning that more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect. The exact duration can vary based on factors such as the user’s metabolism, the amount used, and the frequency of use.
The Connection to Overdose Deaths
You’ll benefit from our continuing guidance and encouragement as you adapt to life as a sober person. “I just didn’t care about anything, drugs were my only driving force every day,” said Ben Campofreda, once a heavy fentanyl user who weighed only 100 pounds when a spine infection sent him to the emergency room. He says fentanyl in long-term users takes time to clear out of the system because the Alcohol Use Disorder drug tends to accumulate in the fat tissue. If you unknowingly take fentanyl in another drug, you may overdose since fentanyl is so potent. Withdrawal symptoms typically start within 12 hours after your last dose of the drug.
- These effects may include confusion, drowsiness, nausea, visual disturbances, constipation, muscle stiffness, and many others.
- According to addiction statistics, substance use disorder involving fentanyl contributes to record numbers of overdose deaths every year.
- Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and significantly more potent than heroin or oxycodone.
Knowing how to act quickly can prevent tragic outcomes and reduce the rising number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Fentanyl may cause serious harm or death if used accidentally by a child or by an adult who has not been prescribed the medication. Dispose of partially used lozenges according to the manufacturer’s directions immediately after you remove them from your mouth. If fentanyl is used by fentanyl fold a child or an adult who has not been prescribed the medication, try to remove the medication from the person’s mouth and get emergency medical help. The effects of fentanyl can be deadly, and prolonged use can cause long-term health problems for users, even if they quit. But the reason for the fentanyl user’s distinctive fold witnessed across urban America has been elusive and difficult to explain.
In 2024, videos of people experiencing the fent fold started appearing on platforms like TikTok and X. While some of these videos helped raise awareness about the drug crisis, others led to people making fun of people with addiction. Fentanyl causes extreme muscle relaxation, particularly in the muscles that help people stand up straight. When fentanyl reduces muscle tone, these muscles become relaxed to the point that they can’t do their job of supporting the body. When these core muscles become too relaxed, people lose the strength needed to stay upright.
The Role of Respiratory Depression
Supporting someone with addiction also means helping them stay safe while they work toward recovery. This may include helping them get clean needles, fentanyl test strips, or connecting them with substance use treatment programs. The most important thing is to keep them alive and healthy so they have the chance to recover when they’re ready. The fent fold has made the drug crisis impossible to ignore in many communities. When people see individuals stuck in this bent-over position on streets, in parks, and in other public places, it brings the reality of addiction into their daily lives. Social media has also played a role in how communities respond to the fentanyl fold.
And many illegal pills laced with fentanyl have tested for up to 5 milligrams 5. If you see someone in the fentanyl fold, check if they’re responsive and breathing normally. If they don’t respond or have slow, shallow breathing, call 911 immediately.
