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Short & Long-term Effects of Fentanyl Abuse

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was originally developed to be used as an anesthetic and pain reliever. In recent years, however, drug dealers have begun manufacturing the potent opioid illicitly, which has led to a surge in fentanyl abuse in the last 10 years.1  

Abusing fentanyl carries a high risk of overdose, as just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal (depending on tolerance, past usage, and body size).2 There are many other short-term and long-term consequences of abusing the drug, including developing an addiction to the substance. Fentanyl has the potential to be highly addictive and is classified as a Schedule II narcotic.1  

Fentanyl is known by many street names, including China Girl, Apace, Jackpot, Goodfellas, King Ivory, and Murder 8.3 It can be used in a variety of methods, each with their own specific risks and long-term effects on the mind and body. 

Short-term Effects of Fentanyl Abuse

Taking any amount of unprescribed fentanyl can be very dangerous because it is incredibly potent. For example, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.4  

While a person may abuse fentanyl to experience the desired effects of relaxation, sedation, or euphoria,1 they may also experience a variety of intense, unpleasant side effects immediately after taking the drug. These short-term effects of fentanyl can include:1

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Constriction of the pupil

There can be other concerning physical symptoms as well, including:1,5

  • Inability to empty the bladder fully
  • Slow or shallow breathing
  • Falling unconscious 

Can You Overdose on Fentanyl?

Yes, overdosing on fentanyl is a very real concern for anyone abusing the drug. In 2022, of the 107,000+ overdose deaths in the United States, 70% were caused by fentanyl.4  

There are several reasons why fentanyl has such a high rate of overdose compared to similar drugs, and many come down to the drug dealers themselves. Fentanyl is cheap to make and can be added to other illegal drugs to increase their potency.2 This means that someone may think they’re taking a completely different drug, such as heroin, meth, or cocaine, only for the drug to actually contain fentanyl. 

Some drug manufacturers are also making counterfeit pills that look like other opioids, but are actually 100% fentanyl. The DEA has found that of the counterfeit pills they’ve tested, 5 out of 10 pills contained a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl.6  

A fentanyl overdose is considered to be a medical emergency. While naloxone, a medication used to reverse an opioid overdose,7 can be administered to treat a fentanyl overdose, it’s not always effective at first because of fentanyl’s potency. This means that a person experiencing a fentanyl overdose may require multiple doses of naloxone.5

Fentanyl overdose symptoms can include:2

  • Cold and clammy skin
  • Stupor
  • Changes in the size of pupils
  • Blue discoloration of the skin
  • Respiratory failure 
  • Coma
  • Death

Long-term Effects of Fentanyl Abuse

While the immediate risk of overdose is very high for those who abuse fentanyl, there are also other, long-lasting effects of chronic fentanyl misuse. Repeatedly using fentanyl can lead to addiction or substance use disorders, which can have countless negative effects on a person’s life. Additional long-term effects of fentanyl can include:8

  • Constipation
  • Poor nutrition
  • Weight loss
  • Sexual problems in men
  • Irregular menstrual cycles in women
  • Miscarriages in pregnant women

Ironically, while fentanyl was first developed to treat pain, taking it at particularly high doses may actually worsen pain.8 However, some of the most serious long-term effects of fentanyl addiction have to do with its effects on the brain.

Effects of Fentanyl Abuse on the Brain

Fentanyl works by binding to the areas in the brain that control pain and pleasure.5 Repeated misuse of fentanyl can lead to the brain adapting to the drug, meaning it becomes harder for the person to feel the same level of pleasure from the substance, leading them to take more to try and achieve that feeling. At the same time, it’s harder for them to feel pleasure from activities that used to give them joy.

There can also be long-lasting effects of fentanyl on the brain itself. Because of the extreme potency of fentanyl, it can affect the brain in more severe ways than other opioids. Fentanyl can cause rapid, drug-induced respiratory depression.9 The decrease in blood oxygen levels can lead to brain hypoxia, where the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Cerebral hypoxia can lead to confusion, difficulty speaking, seizures, and lifelong brain damage.10 Studies have found that fentanyl is 20 times more potent in causing brain hypoxia than heroin is.9  

Fentanyl Methods of Use & Their Effects

Fentanyl can be used in several methods, including being injected, snorted, taken orally, or smoked.1 It can be sold in many different forms, including as a powder, pill, liquid, dropped onto blotter paper, in eye droppers or nasal sprays, in patches, or in blocks that look like brightly colored sidewalk chalk.1,5,11

Each method of using fentanyl has unique risks related to the form of ingestion. These can include:

  • Injecting fentanyl – Has a higher risk of blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and bacteria that cause heart infections.12 Scarring and inflammation can occur at the injection site, and veins can become damaged or collapse.13
  • Smoking fentanyl – can lead to lung disease and increased risk of suppressed breathing and air blockage.14  
  • Snorting fentanyl – Can lead to damage of the nasal passages, including necrosis of soft tissue.15

Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Kansas City

It can feel overwhelming to begin to address your fentanyl addiction. At Empowered Recovery Center in Kansas City, our experienced clinical team can teach you the tools to achieve long-term sobriety. 

Our team is here to support you through every step of your recovery, from answering questions about admissions to discussing our different payment plans and options. We accept a wide variety of major insurances, and our admissions specialists can conduct a benefits verification on your behalf, so you know what your specific insurance policy will cover.

We offer several programs that can be personalized to what best fits your life. Whether you’re looking for a medical detox, partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient program, or standard outpatient program, we have you covered. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you live a sober life without fentanyl. 

References 

  1. Fentanyl. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/Fentanyl-Drug-Fact-Sheet.pdf
  2. Facts about Fentanyl. (n.d.). DEA. Retrieved May 28, from  https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
  3. Fentanyl. (n.d.). DEA. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl#:~:text=What%20is%20Fentanyl%3F,than%20heroin%20as%20an%20analgesic
  4. Get Smart About Drugs. (n.d.). DEA Administrator on Record Fentanyl Overdose Deaths. Retrieved May 28, from  |https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/media/dea-administrator-record-fentanyl-overdose-deaths
  5. Fentanyl. (2025, June 6). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved May 28, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl
  6. Overdose Deaths Decline, Fentanyl Threat Looms. (2024, December 16). DEA. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2024/12/16/overdose-deaths-decline-fentanyl-threat-looms
  7. (n.d.). Naloxone. Department of Public Health. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/pages/naloxone.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BNaloxone%20is%20a%20life,online%20retailer%2C%20or%20local%20organization.
  8. (2024, April 22). Fentanyl. Health Canada. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/controlled-illegal-drugs/fentanyl.html
  9. Solis, E., Cameron-Burr, K. T., Shaham, Y., & Kiyatkin, E. A. (2017). Fentanyl-Induced Brain Hypoxia Triggers Brain Hyperglycemia and Biphasic Changes in Brain Temperature. Neuropsychopharmacology. Retrieved May 28, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5809788/
  10. Cerebral Hypoxia. (2025, June 2). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved May 29, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6025-cerebral-hypoxia
  11. Fentanyl. (n.d.-a). Department of Public Health. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/pages/fentanyl.aspx
  12. Data Summary: Vulnerable Areas for Infectious Diseases in Persons Who Inject Drugs. (2024, February 16). Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID). Retrieved May 29, from https://www.cdc.gov/persons-who-inject-drugs/vulnerable/index.html#:~:text=A%20deadly%20consequence%20of%20the,both%20HIV%20and%20hepatitis%20C.
  13. Opioids and Injection Drug Use (n.d.). MN Dept. of Health. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/basics/intravenous.html
  14. Opioids and Lung Health. (n.d.). American Lung Association. Retrieved May 29, from https://www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/tobacco/reports-resources/opioids-and-lung-health
  15. Alexander, D., Alexander, K., & Valentino, J. (2012). Intranasal hydrocodone‐acetaminophen abuse induced necrosis of the nasal cavity and pharynx. The Laryngoscope. Retrieved May 29, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3494968/
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