Shooting fentanyl, or intravenous (IV) use, involves injecting the drug directly into the bloodstream using a syringe. This method of drug use is extremely dangerous, particularly with a substance as potent as fentanyl, which is about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The high risks associated with shooting fentanyl include not only a heightened potential for overdose but also various other health complications.
The Immediate Risk of Overdose
One of the most acute dangers of shooting fentanyl is the immediate risk of overdose. Due to its extreme potency, even minuscule amounts of fentanyl can cause life-threatening reactions. When fentanyl is injected, it bypasses the body’s natural metabolizing processes (like those that occur in the digestive system) and enters the bloodstream directly, leading to rapid and intense effects. This can quickly depress the central nervous system to dangerously low levels, affecting the ability to breathe. Respiratory arrest is often the cause of death in opioid overdoses, and with fentanyl, the onset can be swift and unexpected.
Accidental Overdose Due to Potency Misjudgment
The risk of accidental overdose increases significantly due to the difficulty in measuring the exact dose of fentanyl. The drug is often sold on the street where it is mixed with or substituted for other opioids, which makes it nearly impossible for users to know the purity and concentration of the substance they are injecting. A slight miscalculation or a variation in the drug’s composition can easily result in an overdose, making IV use of fentanyl particularly perilous.
Infections and Other Health Complications
Long-term IV use of fentanyl, as with other drugs, significantly increases the risk of developing infections. Users who shoot drugs are more likely to share or reuse needles, syringes, and other injection equipment, which facilitates the transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis C. These diseases are life-threatening and require long-term management that can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining.
Additionally, repeated injections can damage veins, leading to collapsed veins and infections at the injection sites. Chronic users might experience abscesses, cellulitis, and thrombosis. In some cases, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart, causing endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves that is potentially fatal if not treated promptly.
Contaminants and Adulterants
Illicit fentanyl is rarely pure and may contain various adulterants and contaminants that can pose additional risks. Substances used to cut the drug can include anything from harmless powders to more dangerous chemicals, which can cause clogging in the blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain, resulting in infection or tissue death in these vital organs.
Psychological Effects and Dependency
Shooting fentanyl is also associated with severe psychological effects. The intense euphoria that fentanyl provides can lead to rapid psychological dependence and addiction, compelling users to continue using despite harmful consequences. Withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, including severe anxiety, sweating, nausea, tremors, heart palpitations, and muscle cramps, which often lead users back to the drug to relieve these symptoms.
The cycle of addiction can further exacerbate social isolation, financial instability, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, trapping individuals in a destructive pattern of use that is difficult to break without professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes shooting fentanyl particularly dangerous?
A: Shooting fentanyl is extremely dangerous because it allows the drug to enter the bloodstream directly, leading to a rapid onset of effects. This can cause an immediate and severe depressant effect on the central nervous system, including the respiratory system, often resulting in respiratory arrest and death. Additionally, the potency of fentanyl increases the risk of accidental overdose, as even a slight miscalculation in dosage can be lethal.
Q: What are the risks of overdose when shooting fentanyl?
A: The risk of overdose is exceptionally high with shooting fentanyl due to its potency and the rapid manner in which it affects the body. Overdose can lead to severe respiratory depression, coma, and death. Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose include pinpoint pupils, cold and clammy skin, cyanosis (bluish skin due to lack of oxygen), stupor, and an inability to wake or respond to stimuli.
Q: Can shooting fentanyl lead to infections?
A: Yes, shooting fentanyl can lead to various infections. Reusing or sharing needles and syringes increases the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C. Additionally, improper injection practices can cause infections at the injection site, including abscesses and cellulitis. There is also a risk of more serious complications like endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, which can be life-threatening.
Q: Are there long-term health effects associated with shooting fentanyl?
A: Long-term IV use of fentanyl can lead to chronic health issues including cardiovascular problems, severe venous damage like collapsed veins, and increased risk of long-term cognitive effects due to potential hypoxic episodes during overdoses. The constant cycle of withdrawal and re-use can also exacerbate mental health issues and lead to sustained psychological disorders.
Q: What should you do if someone is overdosing on fentanyl?
A: If someone is suspected of overdosing on fentanyl, call emergency services immediately. Administer naloxone if available, which is an opioid antagonist that can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose. Multiple doses of naloxone may be required due to fentanyl’s potency. Ensure the person has adequate airway and breathing, and place them in the recovery position (on their side with the bottom arm outstretched and top leg bent for stability) to prevent choking until medical help arrives.
Source
- Drug Fact Sheet: Fentanyl – DEA.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Fentanyl Facts
- Fentanyl DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Drug Overdose Death Rates
