Canadian Addiction Rehab Oxycontin Addiction And Fentanyl Addiction Treatme | Page 9

Fentanyl Addiction –
How Does It Happen?
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Fentanyl tends to release endorphins in a quicker and more intense manner as
compared to other less powerful opiate and opioid painkillers such as
hydrocodone or even heroin. The term endorphin is derived from “endogenous
morphine.” It refers to the pain-relieving agent like morphine and properties of
natural endorphins, which induces euphoria. In a situation where a person is
treated with fentanyl, similar to other opioids, it forms a strong binding with specific
receptors in their brain, which are responsible for the control of the feelings of pain
in their body. It results in a sharp increase in the concentration of dopamine that
makes the person under influence of fentanyl feel good and leads to a blast of
euphoria after the intake of the drug. This is why fentanyl is more addictive and
highly possible to cause extreme discomfort when withdrawn as compare to other
opioids.
The body becomes highly accustomed to the high levels of endorphins, which are
released by the fentanyl, and the addicted person finds it impossible to function
without fentanyl or similar agent that can release the similar amount of endorphins
in his / her body. The brain tends to send distorted signals to the body because it
becomes dependent on the increased levels of endorphins to transmit proper
messages. When the ingestion of fentanyl is suddenly stopped, the release of high
levels of endorphins in the body also stops. This situation makes recreational users of
fentanyl to develop a physical addiction towards this drug. A major reason for
fentanyl being highly addictive and hazardous is that the body and the brain
rapidly develops a tolerance to the drug and the individual addicted to fentanyl
needs to intake the drug in higher quantities to make the body produce the same
level of endorphins.