How to Taper Off Fentanyl

What Is Opioid Tapering?

Fentanyl is a very powerful prescription opioid pain medication and due to its strength can be a very useful tool for doctors and other healthcare professionals. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than Morphine, which is already a strong pain medicine. Problems have arisen concerning Fentanyl for several reasons. First, Fentanyl has a high risk for dependency, even when taken as directed, which can lead to Fentanyl addiction. It can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or combined with other substances, especially alcohol or other illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine.

The second issue with Fentanyl regarding abuse and addiction is that drug traffickers have begun to add it to other drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to provide a product that results in a stronger high. As noted above, Fentanyl when mixed with other drugs can cause serious problems. Additionally, substance abusers and drug addicts often do not know that Fentanyl has been added to a substance they are accustomed to taking. This means that individuals with a heroin addiction or cocaine addiction, even one that seems fairly under control, can risk an opioid overdose and even death while using what they think is their regular dose or amount.