When someone is bent forward in a fentanyl fold, their stiff chest and torso muscles can limit lung movement, making each breath smaller. At the same time, fentanyl affects the brain’s control of breathing, slowing it even more. Together, these effects can quickly cause oxygen levels to plummet, leading to overdose – and, without immediate help, death. Central nervous system (CNS) depression is the primary reason the fent fold happens.
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They can be used to test injectable drugs, powders, and pills. The biggest risk factor is that people are often exposed unintentionally and don’t know to take the proper precautions to use this drug safely. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (some stronger than fentanyl, some weaker) are not “naloxone resistant.” They are opioids and will respond to naloxone if someone is overdosing. Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid that has been used in clinical settings since 1968. Illegal fentanyl is potent and deadly, and other drugs are often laced with it. The effects of fentanyl last a few hours, but it can be detected in your urine, hair and blood far longer.
The fentanyl fold is a distinctive posture where a person bends sharply at the waist, slumps forward, or appears frozen in a mid-slouch. This posture is involuntary and occurs during or after fentanyl use. It’s distinct and recognizable, seen in public settings where users appear stuck in a leaning or folding position.
- This affects everything from breathing to muscle control, creating the conditions for the fent fold to occur.
- It is so potent that just 2 milligrams can cause someone to experience a fatal overdose (DEA, 2024).
- Some users develop lasting mobility issues, balance problems, or musculoskeletal pain even after stopping drug use.
- In 2022, the US Drug Enforcement Agency seized brightly colored fentanyl pills and powder (“rainbow fentanyl”), demonstrating that fentanyl can come in various colors and formulations.
- Regrettably, many of these videos, frequently stripped of vital context, inadvertently led to the mocking and dehumanization of the individuals captured within them.
Is seeing someone in a “fentanyl slump” a medical emergency?
Chronic slouching weakens core and postural muscles, especially if paired with poor nutrition or physical inactivity. Some users develop lasting mobility issues, balance problems, or musculoskeletal pain even after stopping drug use. Fentanyl users tend to lock into a bent position without adjusting, while heroin users sway or shift what is alcoholism slightly. The fentanyl fold reflects a more potent neurological shutdown, making it harder to wake or stimulate someone. It’s a stiffer, more dangerous freeze than the looser nod seen with heroin. This bending isn’t intentional; it happens when your nervous system shuts down postural reflexes.
- Beyond initial treatment, long-term recovery is sustained through ongoing care and community connection.
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- Services like QuickMD make it possible to begin treatment quickly, with same-day appointments available seven days a week.
Harm Reduction
If you choose to use fentanyl, there are some practices that can help you minimize the risk of an overdose. Here are a few recommendations so you can be in control of your experience. Fentanyl test strips are a low-cost method of helping prevent overdoses. They can be used on a tablet to see whether it contains fentanyl. While this is not a 100% safety net, it is one tool that can help prevent an overdose. The liquid form is often dropped on paper or small candy, leading to the potential for tragic deaths among children.
- Understanding the fentanyl fold is crucial for recognizing the signs of fentanyl use, understanding its dangers, and knowing when to seek emergency help.
- A 26-year-old man with a history of fentanyl abuse was found unresponsive in a gas station bathroom.
- Social media has also played a role in how communities respond to the fentanyl fold.
- Participation in support groups can significantly enhance the recovery process.
Why This Sign is So Critical Now
With fentanyl being found in unexpected places, many people worry, what if you touch something that has fentanyl on it? While casual skin contact is unlikely to cause an overdose, fentanyl exposure through inhalation or mucous membranes poses serious risks. Knowing how to handle suspected fentanyl contamination and seeking medical help when needed is crucial to preventing https://xinhai.huaxialifting.com/index.php/2021/03/09/how-alcohol-affects-your-vision-and-eye-health/ harm.
When to Seek Professional Help
If someone has experienced an overdose from an opioid, including fentanyl, call and administer naloxone. It is safe to touch the person and items that may have fentanyl on them (like a doorknob) because fentanyl cannot be absorbed through the skin with casual use (Connolly, 2022). Illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are sometimes mixed with fentanyl, which makes the drugs more potent. If someone with a substance use disorder is unaware of the added fentanyl, this can put them at a higher risk of accidental overdose or death. It’s one of the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.
What Is The “Fent Fold” Or “Fentanyl Lean”?
This unprecedented visibility elicited a deeply polarized range of reactions, from outright derision to profound compassion. This lack of awareness of fentanyl addiction is part of what makes the fentanyl fold so risky. Without realizing it, you stop responding to pain, imbalance, or breathing difficulty. Many users don’t remember the episode afterward, highlighting the drug’s impact on consciousness.
Fentanyl can be detected in urine tests 24 to 72 hours after last use; in blood tests up to 48 hours; and in hair up to three months after last use. Fentanyl abuse isn’t the only opioid that can cause the awkward body reaction, Ciccarone said. The “fentanyl fold” effect can reportedly kick in within two or three minutes after taking the drug, Ciccarone said.
What Is the Fentanyl Fold? Understanding This Dangerous Sign of Opioid Use
Many people worry that calling emergency services for someone taking an illegal drug will get them in trouble, but this is not true. Many states have laws that protect not only the person who calls for help, but also the person overdosing from legal trouble. Once you’ve been taking fentanyl for a while, your body gets used to it and stopping can be very hard. Most people need help fentanyl fold from a health professional or program to successfully quit. Fentanyl acts like many other opioids such as morphine and heroin. People sell illegal fentanyl as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or as pills that look like other prescription opioids.