The highly addictive fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and one of the most dangerous drugs available on the market today. It was originally created for medical purposes as a powerful pain reliever. However, the number of addiction cases and overdoses has since become extremely high all over the US, including here in New Jersey. In order to help the community understand the fentanyl threat and dangers, it’s important to discuss how it affects the brain, the symptoms that may occur as a result of its misuse, and how addiction treatment can help those who need it.
In this blog, we will answer the question: “What does fentanyl do to the brain?” and discuss how professional care at Nirvana Recovery can offer hope to those affected by this addiction.
What Is Fentanyl?
A Brief Overview
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Fentanyl was developed as a pain medication to be used during severe pain (such as for post-surgical or advanced cancer patients). It is 50–100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is an effective pain medication, but it is highly addictive and has a high potential for misuse and abuse when not taken as prescribed.
Fentanyl can be prescribed legally by a doctor, but there is a black market for illegally produced versions of the drug (sold on their own or mixed with other drugs such as heroin or cocaine). People often consume fentanyl without their knowledge when taking other drugs, which can cause a fatal overdose.
What Does Fentanyl Do to the Brain?
Fentanyl’s effects on the brain are what make it powerful and dangerous. Fentanyl is an opioid, and like other opioids, fentanyl attaches to the body’s opioid receptors, which are located in the brain and throughout the nervous system. The opioid receptors control the experience of pain, emotions, and vital functions, including breathing.
When fentanyl connects to the opioid receptors, it causes a number of effects:
- Analgesia: The drug numbs the experience of pain. This is why fentanyl is useful in medical contexts, as it can help people manage serious discomfort.
- Euphoria: Fentanyl causes activation of parts of the brain that control feelings of pleasure and reward. This feeling of extreme happiness is what often leads to fentanyl abuse.
- Central nervous system depression: Fentanyl suppresses activity in the brain that controls the body’s vital functions, such as breathing and heart rate. In high doses, this can be deadly.
Immediate Effects on the Brain
When someone takes fentanyl, the drug rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and starts interacting with the central nervous system. The initial effects include:
- Drowsiness and Sedation: Fentanyl produces feelings of relaxation and slows motor function.
- Dizziness or Confusion: As the brain becomes overwhelmed by its effects, cognitive functions like memory and focus begin to decline.
- Reduced Pain Sensation: This is a desired effect in medical settings, but when abused, it can lead to heightened dependency as users seek relief or escape.
Long-Term Effects of Fentanyl
The effects of fentanyl abuse can move from acute brain responses to chronic brain changes with continued or heavy use of the drug. Short-term effects such as euphoria last for a brief time, but others can result in long-term, progressive changes in brain chemistry and structure. These long-term changes from fentanyl include:
1. Opioid Dependence
Over time, the use of fentanyl and other opioids changes the structure of a person’s brain, specifically the reward center. After prolonged use of the drug, a person becomes reliant on it to experience any sort of pleasure or regular function. Fentanyl dependence is the result of neurochemical changes to dopamine levels in the brain.
Dopamine is a “feel-good” neurotransmitter, and fentanyl abuse causes a decrease in both its production and functioning.
Fentanyl rewires the brain’s reward center and therefore makes the user want to use the drug even when they have developed a tolerance to it and require more to achieve the same desired effects.
2. Brain Damage
Prolonged fentanyl abuse can damage the brain, leading to issues with coordination, memory, emotional control, and cognitive function. When taking high doses, breathing becomes labored, which can cause hypoxia. Hypoxia occurs when the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and can lead to brain damage or death.
3. Mental Health Disorders
Addiction to fentanyl can lead to the development of more severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, mood swings, and paranoia. Symptoms are triggered by the inability to maintain neurochemical homeostasis in the brain, which causes users to have difficulty stabilizing their moods.
Fentanyl’s Impact During Overdose
Fentanyl’s extreme potency drastically increases the risk of overdose. When too much fentanyl floods the brain, its opioid receptors essentially “shut down” the systems that control heart rate and breathing. This is why many fentanyl overdoses result in respiratory failure.
Without immediate intervention, the brain suffers irreversible damage due to a lack of oxygen during an overdose, leading to cardiac arrest, brain death, or fatal organ failure.
Recognizing the Signs of Fentanyl Addiction
Understanding what fentanyl does to the brain is key to recognizing addiction early and seeking professional help. Common signs of fentanyl addiction include:
- Physical Symptoms: Drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, nausea, slowed breathing, and muscle weakness.
- Behavioral Changes: Intense cravings, inability to stop using the drug, withdrawal from social interactions, and increased secrecy.
- Emotional Symptoms: Mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety.
If you or a loved one is displaying any of these signs, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Healing the Brain: Finding Help for Fentanyl Addiction
While fentanyl causes severe damage to the brain’s functioning, recovery is possible with the right treatment. At Nirvana Recovery, we specialize in evidence-based addiction care designed to help individuals overcome dependency and rebuild their mental and emotional health.
What Sets Nirvana Recovery Apart?
- Detox Coordination: Fentanyl detox can be intense and dangerous. We provide medically supervised detox plans that ensure safety and comfort during the withdrawal process.
- Comprehensive Rehab Programs: Our PHP, IOP, and outpatient programs allow individuals to progress through recovery at their own pace while focusing on physical, mental, and emotional healing.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Fentanyl addiction often co-occurs with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, which we address with personalized therapy and support.
- Relapse Prevention: At Nirvana Recovery, we teach individuals how to navigate triggers and stressors to maintain long-term sobriety.
- Family Support: Addiction affects loved ones as well. We provide family therapy sessions to ensure everyone heals together.
Take the First Step to Recovery
Fentanyl addiction is life-shattering, but it’s never too late to get help. After learning about what fentanyl does to the brain, it’s time to make your recovery or the recovery of someone you love a top priority.
Here at Nirvana Recovery, we will be there for you every step of the way with our compassionate care, evidence-based treatments, and guidance from people who have been in your shoes.
Reach out to Nirvana Recovery today to discover more about our individualized treatment programs for fentanyl addiction. We offer detox services, outpatient programs, relapse prevention plans, and more to give you the tools you need to get your life back.
Give us a call now and take the first step to lasting healing.