Serenity Lane Intensive Outpatient Services Explains in Blog Post: How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System

Serenity Lane Intensive Outpatient Services, Eugene, OR, has published a blog post that explains how long fentanyl will stay in a person’s system. Fentanyl has become infamous during the last decade for being responsible for thousands of opioid overdose deaths in the US. Around 72.9 percent of all opioid-involved overdose deaths were due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl can be detected in the body for different amounts of time depending on various factors, such as metabolism, biological makeup, and the method of testing.

The reason for the high risk of overdose death with fentanyl is its extremely high potency. It has been estimated to be 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine. This synthetic opioid was first created in the lab in 1960 by Belgian chemist Paul Janssen of Janssen Pharmaceuticals. And since then, it has been marketed as a treatment for moderate to severe levels of pain. It is one of the few opioid painkillers that have been approved for long-term treatment of chronic severe pain and is mainly prescribed for people who are living with high levels of chronic pain and have a high tolerance for other painkillers.

Meanwhile, fentanyl is also available as a street drug and is sold and consumed in a wide range of forms. It is available as pills or in powder form. It is also dissolved in a solution and dropped onto paper tabs, just like with LSD. But the one that has the highest risk of causing an overdose is when fentanyl is added to other known opioids, such as heroin, to increase the potency. The problem is that the person taking other drugs is unaware of the presence of fentanyl, and this can lead to an overdose and death.

Most of the fentanyl for legitimate medical application is produced in China and exported to the US. However, a substantial percentage of this is diverted and somehow gets into the hands of drug dealers. This is made available to people in the US through the mail, drug cartels, and the dark web.

Fentanyl suppresses some of the functions of the central nervous system, such as heart rate, breathing, and regulation of body temperature. This synthetic opioid binds to opioid receptors in the brain, which causes an increase in dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure, relaxation, and extreme happiness. However, once the user stops taking it or reduces the dose, withdrawal symptoms will start to appear. Withdrawal symptoms may include abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting; restlessness, agitation, and irritability; tremors and goosebumps; fatigue; hypertension and rapid heart rate; muscle spasms and impaired breathing; anxiety, depression, and difficulty feeling positive feelings or pleasure; and extreme drug cravings.

And with regard to how long fentanyl stays in the system, a urine test can detect it from 1 to 3 days after taking it. Fentanyl can be detected in the blood for up to 48 hours after consumption. And fentanyl can be detected in the hair follicles for up to 3 months after consumption. The method of administration is the biggest factor that can affect how long fentanyl stays in the system.

Meanwhile, Serenity Lane uses medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to normalize brain chemistry and relieve physiological cravings. Additionally, they use MAT in conjunction with other therapies in their comprehensive fentanyl addiction treatment programs.

Established in 1973, Serenity Lane has served as a specialty health care service for helping people overcome alcohol use and substance use disorders. All of their programs have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). They are the only treatment center in Oregon that is fully licensed as a facility that can offer medically-assisted detox. They have launched several innovative programs over the years, including residential step-down and outpatient programs. They have also been offering the only Addiction Counselor Training Program in Oregon and some of the graduates of their program are now working with several treatment programs throughout the US.

Those who are interested in learning more about the drug and alcohol rehab treatment services provided by Serenity Lane Intensive Outpatient Services, Eugene, can check out their website or call them at 800-543-9905. They are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Sunday to Saturday.