Opioids such as fentanyl can create dependence in just a couple of weeks. These drugs are often only meant to be used for short periods of time, which can provide short-term pain management without dependence and addiction.
However, fentanyl tends to be used for cases when other pain medications aren’t working and the person needs continuous and long-term pain relief. It is also used as a form of anesthesia. Plus, people make illegal forms in labs and use fentanyl recreationally.
Ongoing and long-term use is risky with such an addictive substance. It is highly likely that this type of use will lead to dependence and addiction. When physical dependence happens, stopping the use too quickly will generally lead to a period of withdrawal.
While withdrawal may be difficult, the consequences of continuing with fentanyl misuse and abuse come with a greater potential for danger, such as a fatal overdose or respiratory depression. Illegal fentanyl and other synthetic opioids became the main source of overdose deaths in the U.S. opioid epidemic in 2016.
