What Is the Fentanyl Fold? Signs, Dangers & Treatment

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. An overdose happens when a drug produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. This can decrease the amount of https://imaginalityhaven.com/index.php/2024/10/25/what-is-the-abstinence-violation-effect-ave-7/ oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Fentanyl Overdose

Knowing how long fentanyl stays in the system can help in managing withdrawal symptoms and planning for detoxification. Contact us today to schedule an initial assessment or to learn more about our services. Whether you are seeking intensive outpatient care or simply need guidance on your drug addiction journey, we are here to help. While more research is needed on the causes of fentanyl fold, it is clear that it is an uncomfortable and potentially Substance abuse dangerous side-effect of fentanyl use.

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All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact at Joe Kukura is an SFist staff asst. editor / reporter who has been published in almost every San Francisco publication, including Hoodline, SF Weekly, Thrillist, and Broke Ass Stuart.

Can the fentanyl fold lead to long-term physical injuries?

When people see individuals stuck in this bent-over position on streets, in parks, and in other public places, it brings the reality of addiction into their daily lives. Social media has also played a role in how communities respond to the fentanyl fold. The fent fold position fentanyl fold itself can make overdoses more dangerous because it can make breathing even harder.

Across cities like Paterson, Atlantic City, and Camden, more individuals are being found hunched over, unresponsive but still breathing, a chilling indicator of fentanyl’s grip. The fold itself is a symptom, but what’s happening underneath—slowed breathing, reduced oxygen to the brain, and potential seizures—can cause lasting neurological damage. Repeated hypoxic episodes may lead to memory loss, impaired coordination, mood disorders, or reduced cognitive ability.

Deaths involving illegally made fentanyl are rising

Over time, repeated folds can cause chronic back pain, posture deformities, or reduced mobility. Physical therapy is often recommended to restore function and strengthen the body after such incidents. The fent fold has made the drug crisis impossible to ignore in many communities.

The Broader Fentanyl Crisis in Texas

If a person is hospitalized or undergoing surgery, a healthcare professional may administer fentanyl as an injection called Sublimaze. But the effects of the opioid continue to linger on as the person continues with their daily life, in most cases awake but not able to stand up straight. «It’s a degree of loss of consciousness and a degree of lost muscular control,» said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a UCSF professor of addiction medicine. Drugs may contain deadly levels of fentanyl, and you wouldn’t be able to see it, taste it, or smell it. It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been mixed with fentanyl unless you test your drugs with fentanyl test strips.

If they don’t respond, check if they’re breathing by looking at their chest to see if it’s moving up and down. If you can’t tell if they’re breathing or their breathing is very slow and shallow, this confirms they’re having an overdose. Today’s Chronicle takes a semi-scientific look into why people slouch over when using fentanyl. Turns out this happens to some degree with many other opioids, like heroin and oxycodone — the so-called «nod» one gets in an initial high. But since much of the fentanyl supply has become exponentially more powerful than heroin, the slouching effect is most pronounced with fentanyl.

• At Recovery Guide, our mission is to connect as many individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders to reputable treatment facilities.
• In the last detailed study in 2022, the CDPH estimated nearly 6,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in California.
• If you or someone you care about is struggling with fentanyl or other opioids, don’t wait until it’s too late.
• Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.

How can I find out if my drugs or pills contain fentanyl?

Aftercare includes sober living homes, 12-step meetings, alumni programs, and regular check-ins with counselors to maintain accountability and motivation. When we stop seeing these images as strange or funny and start seeing them as symptoms of a medical emergency, we move toward compassion, awareness, and solutions. ABC 7 did a similar story in March about why fentanyl causes this particular bent-over reaction. One user they spoke to, who had taken the drug hours earlier but remained bent over, was asked if he was able to stand up straight.