Continued use of fentanyl can cause severe medical conditions and societal consequences such as;

• Respiratory problems; Opioids can suppress breathing, which is often attributed to depression of the central nervous system, affects the immune system's functioning, and increases the release of histamine, causing respiratory disorders such as pulmonary edema, etc.

• Fatal overdose and possible death; Fentanyl is a central nervous system (CNS) opioid that stimulates the brain by inhibiting pain and pleasure neurons. It gives you the feeling of happiness and makes you want to repeat the intake when the high drops; you find yourself repeating the process and eventually overdose on the drug. This can be lethal and cause death if medical intervention is not sought immediately.

• Behavioral changes; Fentanyl affects your behavior directly, and mostly it's the people around you who will recognize the tell tales of your addiction since you will probably suffer from denial too. You may realize that your loved one is showing some of these behavioral changes;

• Drop in attendance or performance in school or work

• Changes in sleep patterns or constantly losing appetite.

• Frequently getting into trouble with friends or the law (through fights, accidents, etc.)

• Unexplainable change in personality or attitude.

• Sudden change in mood, irritability, and angry outbursts.

• Periods of paranoia or fearfulness.

​

Mental Health Problems; You may suffer from depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Due to the neurochemicals reinforced in your brain within a short period, the crash from the high makes you irritable and anxious and triggers stress. Repeat performance can cause long-lasting mental problems, including; depression, personality disorders, anxiety, etc.

Financial and Social Issues; Continued use of fentanyl becomes an addiction that leads to impulsive reasoning, making decision-making not always objective. You might get into debt to support your drug abuse, sell personal items to buy fentanyl, or engage in dangerous behavior like transactional sex to support your addiction. This affects you and your friends and family members, especially when you get substance abuse-related legal problems.

​

Failed Relationships; When you abuse fentanyl, you must change your friends since you will no longer feel comfortable with the same people. The new group of friends is most likely other users. In addition, the constant mood swings will make your loved ones avoid you, for example, when you are grumpy, irritable, and violent.