Heroin once used to dominate the addiction market. But over the last few years, a substance that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin has taken over it. And the substance is fentanyl.
Fentanyl has changed opioid addiction significantly, making it significantly bigger. The drug is much more unpredictable and harder to anticipate.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heroin has been replaced by illicitly manufactured Fentanyl in the US market. In the year 2023, synthetic opioids, primarily Fentanyl, and related substances, were involved in 92% of opioid overdose deaths.
This data highlights the shift in the addiction market. In this blog, we will discuss heroin vs fentanyl, why fentanyl is more dangerous, and how to identify opioid overdose dangers. So let’s get started.
Heroin vs. Fentanyl: What Is the Difference?
Heroin and Fentanyl both are opioid.
Heroin is made from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy. It produces the feeling of euphoria and relaxation that is the reason why most people end up getting addicted to it. It has a significant impact on the brain, nervous system, and breathing. Thus overdose of a substance can put your life in danger.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. The most important thing is that the substance is used for legitimate medical treatment involving severe pain. So the chances of starting it as part of treatment and getting addicted to it are common with its usage. Also, the rise of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has widely increased addiction cases.
So, if you are wondering, is fentanyl stronger than heroin? The answer is Yes. Fentanyl is significantly more potent than heroin. It simply means a small dosage of fentanyl may produce a considerable negative impact.
Why Is Fentanyl More Dangerous Than Heroin?
Addiction is not good for your health irrespective of the substance you are getting addicted to. Be it heroin or fentanyl, both substances can negatively impact your body as well as your mind. However, when comparing, the addictions, fentanyl can have a more adverse impact. Let’s discuss why fentanyl is so dangerous and why the overdose risk are higher.
Potency
As we have already discussed when it comes to fentanyl vs heroin potency, fentanyl is much more potent than heroin; that’s why it impacts your body strongly. Heroin and fentanyl both can slow down your breathing during an overdose.
However, the fact that Fentanyl has greater potency can increase the danger. Most people who use substances like heroin think that they know how their body reacts. But when it comes to Fentanyl, this assumption may result in life threatening problem.
Unpredictability
Illicit drugs do not come with reliable information about their contents or strength. One batch may contain fentanyl while another may not. The concentration can also vary.
And this is the major reason why addiction turns dangerous. People who use such substances think they have used this substance before. However, there are chances that its content might have changed, making it difficult to anticipate.
Accidental Exposure
Generally, with heroin a person knows what they are taking and how it impacts their health. But Fentanyl can be mixed with other substances, and if you purchase it, you might not know what it is.
Similarly, if a person is taking it in the form of medicine to get rid of pain, they start taking it frequently, sometimes without any professional consultation. Thus, the chances of taking it accidentally are higher with fentanyl; as a result, many people end up taking overdoses.
Availability
Fentanyl is stronger, plus it is widely present in the illicit drug supply market. It can be mixed with heroin, and other drugs and many times it happens without the knowledge of the person who is taking it.
So, basically, your loved one might not be taking Fentanyl directly. But if the person is an addict and consuming other drugs, there are chances that the person is taking fentanyl with other drugs unknowingly.
Multiple Reversal Doses
Generally, for overdose reversal, medication is prescribed to reduce the impact of the opioids and restore normal breathing. However, for treating some fentanyl overdoses, a person may need to take multiple doses of reversal medication.
The above points highlight why Fentanyl is much stronger, but that does not mean that heroin is safe. Both Fentanyl, and Heroin can cause slow breathing, ultimately causing considerable negative impact on your loved ones.
How Can You Recognize an Opioid Overdose?
When a person becomes addicted to a substance like Fentanyl or Heroin, they don’t realize how harmful they are till the day an overdose happens. Overdose make the breathing slow; the substance reaches the brain and other body parts, and the situation becomes worse.
In most cases, a person doesn’t know what to do. In this situation, if quick action is not taken, then it might cause organ failure and even death.
If you suspect fentanyl or heroin overdoses in your loved ones, here are the key signs that confirm this.
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Extreme Sleepiness where the person was not able to wake up
- Pinpoint pupils
- Pale, gray, or bluish skin, lips, or fingertips
- Breathing difficulty sounds
Trouble breathing and a person’s inability to wake up are signs that you need immediate professional assistance. In such cases, going for medical help is the best you can do.
Knowing the Risks Can Make a Difference
The shift from heroin toward illicit fentanyl is a matter to worry. The fact that people are now consuming a more harmful substance intentionally or unintentionally highlights the higher risk.
When it comes to heroin vs, fentanyl, both substances are harmful and can make a person addict, causing serious damage to a person’s life. However, fentanyl’s nature makes the addiction far more serious than the others.
Doesn’t matter what addiction you are dealing with; treating it is important, and at Riverside Recovery Center, we help you in doing so. We offer personalized treatment plan understanding what a person is suffering from, to provide the best treatment as per their addiction.
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