The Silent Threat: Exploring the Devastating Impact of Fentanyl on Minors
Introduction:
Every day there are new reports of people under the age of 18 dying of the silent killer fentanyl. The lack of public outrage over these stories continues to anger parents that have lost their children to this deadly substance.
Therefore, the focus of this article is to outline what this extremely powerful drug does to someone under the age of 18.
The sphere in which this is affecting society is vastly deep and wide throughout and impacting all areas of our lives.
Setting the Stage:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is primarily prescribed to treat severe pain, particularly for patients undergoing surgery or experiencing chronic pain associated with cancer. In recent years, however, fentanyl has become a drug of abuse, and the number of overdose deaths related to fentanyl has risen dramatically.
While fentanyl abuse is a serious problem among people of all ages, there is a particular concern about the impact of this drug on adolescents and young adults under the age of 18. This article will explore and unpack the results of fentanyl use among people under the age of 18, including its effects on the brain, body, and behavior.
The most common sources of overdose typically come in the form of pills. However, there are also pain patches that can catalyze addiction in young people.
The FDA is calling on parents and caregivers to make sure these patches are stored, used, and disposed of properly. The agency offers these tips:
Keep fentanyl patches and other drugs in a secure location out of children's sight and reach. Little ones may think a prescription patch is a sticker, tattoo, or bandage.
Cover the fentanyl patch with a transparent adhesive film or apply first aid tape around the edges to secure it to your skin.
Throughout the day, check that the patch is still in place and secure.
When you apply a new patch, immediately dispose of the used one properly.
Kids can overdose on new or used fentanyl patches by putting them in their mouths or on their skin. This drug can slow breathing and decrease levels of oxygen in a child's blood, potentially causing death.
What Happens in the Brain:
Fentanyl binds to the same receptors in the brain as endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers. This can induce a feeling of euphoria, and relaxation, and triggers pleasure sensations. The drug can also depress the central nervous system, leading to respiratory depression and which can lead to a potentially fatal overdose.
Fentanyl also has a significant impact on the brain's reward system, increasing the release of dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. This effect is what makes fentanyl fatally addictive and can lead to compulsive drug-seeking behavior, even in the face of negative consequences. At this point, the person with the addiction can have up to a biologically chemical addiction to the drug. For adolescents, who have little-to-no experience with foreign substance use, this can have a devastating effect on their brain - especially during a critical time of development.
What is a chemical addiction?
By definition, chemical addiction is a chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal brain disease that is characterized by loss of control, denial, and relapse.
What Happens in the Body:
Fentanyl's effects on the body can be particularly dangerous for young people. Adolescents and young adults have a higher risk of respiratory depression and overdose because their bodies are not yet fully developed. When fentanyl binds to the opioid receptors in the brainstem, it can suppress the respiratory system, leading to shallow and thin breathing, a slower heart rate, and potentially fatal respiratory failure.
In addition to its effects on respiration, fentanyl can also cause other physical symptoms, such as vomiting, constipation, and itching.
Fentanyl's effects also include:
extreme happiness
drowsiness
nausea
confusion
sedation
blurred vision
unconsciousness
The Fentanyl Possession:
Fentanyl can have a significant impact on behavior, particularly in young people. Adolescents and young adults who take fentanyl may exhibit a range of behaviors, including social withdrawal, decreased academic performance, and an increased risk of engaging in risky behaviors due to the disconnect from reality that the drug synthesizes.
Fentanyl can also lead to impaired judgment and decision-making, which can lead to dangerous situations, such as driving under the influence or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior.
Additionally, when on the drug, young people will engage in dangerous behaviors in order to obtain more of it. Therefore, while using the drug, the effects of the drug enable the perceived notion that the user has the ability to do whatever is necessary to get more of the drug.
In the Long-Term:
Fentanyl use can have long-term effects on young people. Prolonged use of fentanyl can lead to a range of physical and psychological problems, including:
Physical Dependence: Fentanyl can lead to physical dependence, which means that the body has adapted to the drug's presence and requires it to function normally. When someone who is physically dependent on fentanyl stops taking the drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes.
Tolerance: Tolerance to fentanyl develops quickly, which means that users need to take higher doses of the drug to achieve the same effects. This can increase the risk of overdose and respiratory failure.
Addiction: Fentanyl is highly addictive, and young people who abuse the drug are at increased risk of developing an addiction. Addiction is a chronic brain disease that is characterized by a compulsive drug-seeking behavior, despite negative consequences.
Mental Health Problems: Fentanyl abuse can also lead to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
Impaired Cognitive Functioning: Fentanyl can impair cognitive functioning, including memory, attention, and problem-solving. This can have significant long-term consequences, including poor academic performance and impaired social functioning.
Mood Disorders: Fentanyl use can lead to mood disorders, including depression, anxiety, and even psychosis. Adolescents may be at increased risk of developing these disorders due to the impact of fentanyl on the developing brain.
Behavioral Problems: Adolescents who use fentanyl may be at increased risk of engaging in risky behavior, including criminal activity and violence. They may also be at increased risk of developing substance use disorders later in life.
Social Problems: Fentanyl use can lead to social problems, including strained relationships with family and friends, isolation, and stigma.
Being the Change Agent:
Preventing fentanyl abuse in young people is critical to reducing the number of overdose deaths related to this drug. Educating young people about the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids is an important step in prevention. Parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals can play a significant role in educating young people about the serious dangers that the drug by communicating the effects in a way that could even scare the youth from anything beyond iced tea.
Treatment of accidental fentanyl use in adolescents should involve a comprehensive approach, including medical detoxification, behavioral therapy, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT involves the use of medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine, to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, along with behavioral therapy to address the underlying issues that contribute to addiction.
Conclusion:
The key to keeping adolescence alive in these dangerous and trying times is communication. Arm yourself with information about the effects and sources of fentanyl so you can talk with young people in your immediate circle about saying no to peer pressure and they can tell their friends to say no. This creates a circle of trust and a shield of fortitude from the pressures that teens face when around their friends. This is what can save lives. Being that catalyzing factor within your local community will save lives and keep our children safe.
CITATIONS
What is chemical addiction? - SAIR: Substance Abuse Information Resources (sair-hug.org)
Fentanyl DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
Follow the Author, Thomas McGregor https://twitter.com/realtmcgregor?s=21&t=o3uSyB8uaFYHja2DYGyFTg
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