Snorting Fentanyl | Dangers & Effects

When prescribed, fentanyl is available in tablets, lozenges, fentanyl patches, and nasal sprays. Fentanyl tablets can be crushed and snorted, which is considered drug abuse. Snorting any illicit fentanyl off the street, including when it’s mixed with other drugs, can also be dangerous.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies fentanyl as a schedule II drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to physical dependence. The synthetic opioid analgesic is also approved as a pain reliever to treat severe pain after surgery.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many opioid overdose deaths have involved fentanyl, especially when the drug is abused.

Snorting Fentanyl

When taken as directed, fentanyl is very potent. When abused, it can be even stronger. As you snort fentanyl, the drug hits the bloodstream immediately and goes right to the brain.

This causes the effects to occur more quickly, and the body can easily become overwhelmed. Overwhelming the body with a synthetic opioid like fentanyl can lead to an overdose.

The prescription opioid is also mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. When snorted, these mixtures create a powerful and euphoric high that can lead to repeated use and an increased risk of fatal overdose.

Effects Of Snorting Fentanyl

Approved fentanyl use can lead to some side effects, but snorting the prescription drug can amplify those side effects and even add a few more.

Some of the side effects of snorting fentanyl can include:

• nausea and vomiting
• confusion
• mental impairment
• blurry vision
• headache
• weakness
• dry mouth
• decreased appetite
• sweating
• hallucinations
• weight loss
• nasal congestion
• bloody nose

Fentanyl is a potent drug that’s 50 times stronger than heroin. Snorting fentanyl also increases the onset, intensity, and duration of effects.

Speed Of Onset

Snorting fentanyl allows the opioid to be absorbed right into the bloodstream through the mucus membranes in the nose. From there, it goes to the brain.

This process only takes a couple of minutes and is much faster than oral ingestion. With that speed, the body is ill-prepared for the intensity of the drug and its effects

Intensity

Snorting fentanyl also leads to a much more intense high than you would feel by taking it orally. Because the drug is not being broken down in the digestive system, a very concentrated dose of the drug is sent right to the brain.

This can overwhelm the body and lead to dangerous side effects.

Duration

Because the drug reaches the brain so quickly, it sets off a very intense but short reaction. But, although the reaction may be short, the effects can be much more extreme than if you took the drug orally.

Dangers Of Snorting Fentanyl

Snorting fentanyl, especially if you’re doing it on a regular basis, can lead to a number of long-term dangers including:

• low blood pressure
• weakened heart valves
• irregular heart rate
• heart attack
• stroke
• increased risk of cancers and infections
• kidney and/or liver damage
• memory loss
• increased risk of depression

Fentanyl Overdose

Snorting fentanyl can lead to a drug overdose if you take too much or if it’s mixed with other illicit drugs and the mixture overwhelms the body. Some of the signs of a fentanyl overdose include:

• blue tint to lips and nails
• extreme drowsiness
• disorientation and confusion
• small pupils
• cold, clammy skin
• shakiness
• vomiting
• respiratory depression

If you use fentanyl or buy opioids off the street, consider getting access to naloxone (Narcan). In the case of an opioid overdose, it can reverse the deadly effects and possibly save a life.

Treatment For Fentanyl Addiction

There are evidence-based treatment options available to address opioid use disorder and fentanyl addiction.

One type of treatment is medication-assisted treatment, which involves medication to reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. Some of the medications include:

• methadone: triggers a response similar to fentanyl, but instead of activating opioid receptors it blocks them and reduces cravings
• buprenorphine: reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings and has a lower potential for abuse and misuse (a mix of buprenorphine and naltrexone is called Suboxone)
• naltrexone: blocks opioid receptors and prevents the euphoric high

If you or a loved one needs help for opioid addiction, please contact us today for information on our outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.