How Strong is Fentanyl? Fentanyl vs Other Opioids

How Strong Is Fentanyl?

Many people wonder how potent fentanyl is, and it’s stronger than you might think. Fentanyl is very powerful, much more so than morphine or heroin. Because of this, it’s strictly controlled, similar to how Zoloft is regulated. But even with these rules, fentanyl has made the opioid crisis worse.

Dealers often mix fentanyl into other drugs or sell it on its own. It’s so strong and works so fast that it can lead to addiction quickly. This shows why it’s crucial to handle drugs responsibly, whether they’re street drugs like fentanyl or prescribed medicines.

Why is Fentanyl so Dangerous?

In 2021, an estimated 77% of overdose deaths in the United States involved fentanyl.

Even the tiniest amount of fentanyl, just two milligrams, can dramatically slow down or completely halt your breathing. Insufficient oxygen reaching the brain can result in coma, permanent brain damage, and, ultimately, death.

A barely visible speck of fentanyl is potent enough to be fatal. Dealers are increasingly using larger quantities of this synthetic opioid to dilute their drugs. This lethal mixture has led to fentanyl overdoses becoming the leading cause of death among American adults aged 18 to 45, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

Fentanyl vs Other Opioids

To show how potent fentanyl is compared to other painkillers, this table rates different opioids based on their pain-relieving power.

Is Fentanyl Stronger Than Morphine?

Fentanyl is significantly more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is estimated to be about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine in its analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. This increased potency makes fentanyl a powerful opioid medication used to manage severe pain, particularly in cases where other opioids might not be adequate.

How Much Stronger is Fentanyl Than Heroin?

Fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is significantly more potent than morphine and heroin.

Users may unknowingly consume a fatal dose of fentanyl when their heroin is laced with it. Dealers often add fentanyl to increase potency, but their equipment may not accurately measure safe levels, increasing the risk of overdose. Street-sourced fentanyl, produced in illicit labs, tends to be less pure and more unpredictable in its effects on the body.

Is Dilaudid Stronger Than Fentanyl?

Fentanyl surpasses Dilaudid in terms of potency, standing out as the most robust available pain-relieving opioid. Comparatively, while Dilaudid is four times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is estimated to be 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.

The skin patch form of fentanyl, Duragesic, deviates from most other opioids due to its exceptional strength. It’s strongly advised against using it for individuals not habituated to opioid use as it significantly heightens the risk of an overdose.

Are There Drugs Stronger Than Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is one of the most potent opioids available, known for its high strength. Some substances may be more robust in terms of potency, such as carfentanil, which is even more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil is a highly potent synthetic opioid primarily used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large animals. However, in terms of drugs typically used in medicine or encountered on the streets, fentanyl is considered one of the most potent opioids available.

Learn More:

• What Does Fentanyl Look Like?
• What Is Fentanyl?
• How Long Does Fentanyl Stay In Your System
• Fentanyl Withdrawal
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• How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Urine?
• What is Norco? Norco Drug For Severe Pain Information
• The Dangers of Hydrocodone Addiction, Symptoms & Treatment
• Hydrocodone Side Effects, Uses, Addiction and More
• Is Oxycodone Addictive
• What Is Oxycodone?
• Oxycodone Side Effects
• Opiate Withdrawal
• Opioid Withdrawal Timeline
• Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
• Tramadol vs Oxycodone: Which is Better? Side Effect Comparison
• Oxycodone Dosage Guide, Precautions, and Max Dose
• Oxycodone Vs Oxycontin. Differences & Similarities, Abuse & Treatment Options

How Does Fentanyl Affect The Brain?

Understanding how fentanyl addiction starts is very important to spot signs in yourself or someone close, especially if they’re using it as medicine. Lots of people hooked on painkillers got started with legal prescriptions. Even when taken the right way, fentanyl messes with the brain, making it rely on the drug to feel normal.

Fentanyl tricks the brain by replacing chemicals that make us feel good, like dopamine. Then, the brain stops making these chemicals on its own. When folks stop using fentanyl, the body can’t make dopamine like it used to, so feeling good gets tough until the body clears out the drug.

Breaking the brain’s reliance on substances like drugs or alcohol involves a period of withdrawal symptoms during the healing process. Withdrawal symptoms encompass both physical and psychological effects, making it challenging to manage alone. In severe abuse cases, attempting detox without medical assistance can even be life-threatening due to intensified withdrawal symptoms. Seeking medical detox from a reputable treatment center is strongly recommended.

Short-Term Effects of Fentanyl

Immediate and profound effects may be experienced by individuals using fentanyl, whether intentionally or accidentally. Common short-term physical effects of fentanyl include:

• Intense euphoria: Fentanyl triggers a rapid feeling of pleasure and relaxation.
• Sedation: Fentanyl may induce extreme drowsiness or sedation, affecting normal functioning.
• Respiratory depression: Its impact on breathing can cause slowed or shallow breathing, leading to decreased oxygen supply and potentially respiratory failure.
• Nausea and vomiting: Fentanyl use can result in discomfort and potential dehydration due to nausea and vomiting.
• Confusion and disorientation: Fentanyl might cause confusion, disorientation, and impaired cognitive function, hindering clear thinking or sound judgment.

Long-Term Effects of Fentanyl

Continued fentanyl use can severely impact both physical and mental health over time. Some long-term side effects include:

• Tolerance and dependence: Prolonged fentanyl use may result in tolerance, requiring higher doses for the same effect. This can lead to dependence, where quitting or reducing usage causes withdrawal symptoms.
• Addiction: Fentanyl’s strong euphoric effects can trigger compulsive drug-seeking behavior, creating a challenging cycle of addiction, both physically and psychologically.
• Organ damage: Fentanyl abuse can harm vital organs, particularly the liver, kidneys, and heart. Reduced oxygen due to respiratory issues can also damage various body systems.
• Mental health disorders: Fentanyl use raises the risk of developing mental health issues like anxiety and depression by disrupting brain chemistry and impacting neurotransmitters’ natural balance.

The Dangers of Fentanyl Overdose

Fentanyl overdose is seriously risky. This drug can be lethal. While it helps with intense pain, it also makes you deeply relaxed. Doctors prescribe safe doses, but if you’re battling addiction, it’s easy to lose track. Not keeping count can lead to a fatal overdose, a tragic event happening far too often.

What to do if Someone Overdoses on Fentanyl

• Immediately contact medical emergency services (call 911).
• Refrain from attempting CPR or giving medications unless adequately trained.
• If the individual is breathing, place them on their side to prevent choking in case of vomiting.
• Trained responders can position the person in the standard recovery stance, ensuring open airways.
• Avoid giving any fluids; stay with the person and monitor their breathing until help arrives.
• Naloxone (brand name: Narcan), if available and administered by trained individuals, can potentially save a person’s life. Naloxone functions as an opioid antagonist, binding to brain opioid receptors, displacing any opioids present, and triggering an immediate withdrawal response. Swift administration of naloxone can avert a potentially fatal situation.

Fentanyl Abuse Statistics

Fentanyl abuse statistics show that fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid significantly contributing to the opioid epidemic in the United States. In 2020, there were over 93,000 drug overdose deaths in the US, with fentanyl involved in over 60%. Fentanyl abuse has also increased in other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom.