Fentanyl can also induce muscle rigidity, contributing to unusual postures. The most troubling aspect of San Francisco’s fentanyl crisis is the more than 800 people who died from drug overdoses last year, and of those, around 80% involved the use of the deadly opioid fentanyl. This is a national problem, and not at all exclusive to San Francisco. The fentanyl fold is a visible sign of a life-threatening addiction, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
Side effects of fentanyl
Fentanyl can be illegally mixed into other substances, including heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine (NIDA, 2021). This combination can result in an individual consuming a much stronger substance than they are used to, resulting in overdose and possibly death. The DEA has found an average of 2.4 milligrams of fentanyl in the pills they test (DEA, 2024).
Doctors and Users Explain Why Fentanyl Users Are Hunched Over So Often
People will also display a rocking or teetering motion as they struggle to regain balance, this motion reflects the bodies inability to stay alert while under the influence of Fentanyl. The person should receive immediate medical attention for supportive care and to ensure the emergency has ended. Tell your doctor if you feel that your pain is not controlled or if your pain increases, becomes worse, or if you have new pain or an increased sensitivity to pain during your treatment with oxycodone. Do not take more of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Fentanyl may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Fentanyl can last for a few hours when taken orally or when snorted, smoked, or injected. The transdermal patches can last for up to 12 to 24 hours after the patch has been removed. While some urine drug screens can detect fentanyl, others do not. People can test positive for fentanyl for 3 to 5 days after last use. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Public Health
For continuous delivery, a transdermal patch can slowly deliver fentanyl through the skin and into the bloodstream for up to 72 hours. Fentanyl affects people differently, depending on an individual’s size and overall health condition. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Manufacturers use chemicals to make a substance with the same chemical structure as poppies to make fentanyl in a lab. Call an ambulance right away if you suspect you or someone you’re with may have taken an overdose. Fentanyl patches pose a danger to kids who can stick them on their skin or mouths.
There are two types of fentanyl – pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally made fentanyl. The effects of fentanyl can be deadly, and prolonged use can cause long-term health problems for users, even if they quit. But the reason for the fentanyl user’s distinctive fold witnessed across urban America has been elusive and difficult to explain.
Recovery Is Possible
This behavior often stems from shame, fear of being judged, or an attempt to hide their drug use. You may notice them avoiding social gatherings, withdrawing from family events, or spending long periods alone. This physical stance is often seen in public spaces, adding to the growing visibility of the opioid crisis. The fentanyl fold doesn’t just signal intoxication, it reflects the overwhelming impact https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that fentanyl has on the body’s motor functions. It is crucial to understand what the fentanyl fold is, what causes it, how to recognize other, less obvious signs of fentanyl abuse, and how to approach a loved one about getting help for their addiction.
- The “fentanyl fold” effect can reportedly kick in within two or three minutes after taking the drug, Ciccarone said.
- They speculate that it may also be a way to tempt teens and young adults to take them.
- Learn why fades, consultations, and extra services stretch appointment times – and how to get a faster haircut without sacrificing style.
- Some observers note that this spectacle—often witnessed on the streets or on public transit—looks like a scene from a dystopian world.
There are plenty of factors that lead fentanyl addicts to bend over. Fentanyl addiction impacts the part of the brain controlling muscle coordination and motor skills, leading to the loss of control over waist muscles, resulting in that ‘bend over’ posture. This extreme bend or fold is proof of fentanyl’s more severe impact on the human body than other opioids. Recovery from fentanyl addiction starts with safety, and that means medical detox.
If they are not breathing, provide rescue breaths by tilting their head back, pinching their nose, and breathing into their mouth once every five seconds. Even if naloxone is administered and the person revives, medical attention remains important because fentanyl is potent, and its effects can last longer than naloxone, potentially leading to a re-overdose. Motor Function refers to our ability to control our bodies movement, like walking, reaching and grabbing an item, and simply standing upright. Most of the time we see individuals “Folding” or “Bending” forward (as if they are hunched over), but sometimes people may start to “Lean” backwards.
It’s an odd side effect of opioid abuse: Why are fentanyl users bent over. Here’s why
This contamination increases overdose risk because users may be unaware of what they are consuming, including potent substances like carfentanil. Understanding what is carfentanil—a substance even more powerful than fentanyl—helps illustrate the lethal danger of why do people on fentanyl bend over opioids. Naloxone (Narcan) is an antidote for fentanyl and other opioid overdoses. Naloxone helps reverse the respiratory depression of fentanyl. Naloxone can help prevent fentanyl-related deaths when it is given within a short period of time after an overdose. The nasal spray form of naloxone does not require a prescription and can be obtained from pharmacies.
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency or witnessing an overdose, call 911 immediately. This article is Sober living house for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment of addiction and related conditions.
Reach out today to support your loved one in taking the critical steps toward recovery and reclaiming their health and future. Dr. Kathryn Taylor is a physician and addiction specialist who works with those experiencing homelessness as part of a street medicine team in San Francisco. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.