Fentanyl is causing huge problems right across the world, and in particular the USA.
It’s likely you may be aware of the situation, given the mass headlines the problem has been drawing, as well as shows like Dopesick and Pain Hustlers on Netflix highlighting the situation through drama.
Over the past few decades usage and Fentanyl addiction has shot up dramatically and is now at breaking point. But why are so many people addicted to it and how has it come to this?
Table of Contents
Potency and Rapid Effect
Firstly, there’s the potency of it, as well as its rapid effect. In hospital its prescribed for a variety of severe pains from going through childbirth to patients with advanced stages of cancer, working quickly to provide pain relief.
Alongside that, though, there comes a strong sense of euphoria, which is leading to it being misused. It’s a far more intense feeling than other forms of opioid, which is heightening its appeal, increasing cravings and leading to addiction.
Illicit Manufacturing and Supply
The reason why more people are struggling with addiction to fentanyl is the availability of it. While once it was given out willy nilly as a prescription, which is why there have been so many court cases in the USA of late, today it’s more in the illegal market where it’s doing so much damage.
Accessibility has heightened, with drug traffickers seeing it as highly profitable. Dealers will even mix fentanyl with other substances like heroin or cocaine, without the buyers knowledge and contributing to addiction without them even realising.
Accessibility and Cost
It’s also much cheaper than other drugs. And as a result more people opt for it. It’s that simple. What’s more, people who may have once had it as a prescription can pick it up through illegal channels easily and just continue their cycle of usage.
It’s what many authorities are desperate to cut out, that supply, but it’s proving more difficult than ever to stop.
Tolerance and Withdrawal
As with any substance, in particular opioids, the more it is used the more the body starts to tolerate higher and higher doses to achieve the same effect. That can escalate incredibly quickly and risk overdose, as well as withdrawal symptoms as the effects fade. This can range from severe anxiety to nausea and muscle pain. That generally continues the cycle with only addiction rehabilitation able to start preventing that.
Social and Psychological Factors
The fentanyl epidemic cannot be explained purely in terms of chemistry or supply chains. Broader social and psychological issues also play a major role. Economic hardship, unemployment, trauma, and untreated mental health conditions all contribute to substance misuse. For many, fentanyl becomes a way to escape pain, loneliness, or despair. In communities where hope and opportunity feel scarce, the short-term relief of fentanyl can appear more appealing than the struggle to cope without it. Unfortunately, this reliance only deepens vulnerability and perpetuates cycles of addiction.
Lack of Awareness and Stigma
Finally, another factor is the lack of awareness about fentanyl’s dangers. Education is key in stopping the rot when it comes to the drug, but often people don’t realise its risks and dangers until it’s too late.
There also continues to be a stigma around the drug, which to this day is stopping people from getting the help they need. That needs to change, it’s 2025. We need to live in a world where people have the confidence to reach out and get the support they need, before it’s too late.
