Fentanyl is one of the most potent opioids that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. Even a few grains of the drug can trigger a fatal overdose. It’s used in clinical settings to manage severe pain, but it’s also produced illegally and sold on the black market, often mixed with other drugs like heroin or cocaine.
This synthetic opioid can appear in many different forms. This page explores what fentanyl looks like, how it’s most commonly found, and why it presents such a pressing danger. You can also discover how to get effective opioid addiction treatment.
Fentanyl exists in two primary forms: pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl (prescribed by doctors) and illicit fentanyl (manufactured and sold illegally).
When doctors prescribe it, fentanyl comes in several forms, each of which is designed for controlled dosing with medical supervision. These include:
Illegally manufactured fentanyl is much more dangerous and unpredictable than its pharmaceutical counterpart. It is found in the following forms:
Fentanyl is often mixed into other substances, so it can be almost impossible to identify without specialized testing—it’s odorless and tasteless. That said, here’s how to visually identify the drug in its various forms:
Illicit fentanyl in powder form is mainly:
Drug traffickers often mix fentanyl with heroin, cocaine, or meth to increase potency. This practice of adulteration radically increases the risk of overdose due to the strength of fentanyl.
Many fentanyl-laced pills are designed to look like common prescription drugs, making them especially dangerous. These laced pills:
This is one of the most destructive forms of fentanyl. The pills may be pink, green, yellow, or blue. Different colors do not indicate the strength of the drug.
Fentanyl in liquid form may be:
Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The drug can provoke life-threatening overdoses in minuscule quantities—the equivalent of a few grains of salt can kill an adult. The potency of the drug means there’s a narrow line between a therapeutic and fatal dose.
Unlike pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl, there is no quality control when the drug is produced illegally. A single batch might contain uneven amounts of the synthetic opioid, prompting entirely unpredictable effects.
The extreme potency of fentanyl means that an overdose can happen within minutes. Signs include:
If someone shows these signs, call 911 immediately and give the person naloxone (Narcan) if it’s available. Naloxone can reverse the effects of opioid overdose and restore normal breathing, but it’s not a substitute for medical care.
Here’s how to stay safe if you or someone you know is at risk of encountering fentanyl:
Like all opioid use disorders, fentanyl addiction is aggravating but treatable. Whether you’ve become dependent on the drug after using it for pain relief or you have become addicted to illicit fentanyl, we can help you get back on track at Tree House Recovery.
We offer a variety of outpatient and intensive outpatient programs for young men, all delivering personalized treatment plans that blend evidence-based therapies and holistic interventions. We’re happy to work with major health insurance providers to ensure no financial barriers prevent you from getting compassionate and effective care.
Fentanyl addiction is a progressive condition, so the sooner you get help, the more seamless treatment will be—get immediate assistance by calling (855) 202-2138 today.
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