CHD Giving insight into Local Fentanyl Addiction

By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – Of growing concern to some organizations and communities within Oregon is the prevalence and evolution of fentanyl. At the forefront of ongoing efforts to contain the opiate and help those suffering from addiction is the La Grande based Center for Human Development (CHD). In a series of interviews, CHD will explain the properties, risks and local impact of fentanyl along with what can be done to mitigate it. Beginning with a general overview of the substance and its risks are substance use disorder (SUD) Coordinator Lisa Whipple and Recovery Mentor Brooke Taylor.

According to Taylor, fentanyl is a synthetic opiate which provides a “euphoric, short term high.” Notably, a prescription form of fentanyl does exist, though is unrelated to the version being found in the streets. “This is homemade in labs, synthesized. It is a central nervous system depressant, it gives a high by interacting with opioid receptors in the body,” Whipple noted.

In its current iterations, fentanyl is pressed from a powdered substance into two primary pill varieties. The older “blues” type consists of small, round, blue tablets stamped with an M and meant to resemble counterfeit morphine pills. The newer “rainbow” variant is multicolored and more meant to resemble candy or street chalk though may also forgo pressing and be distributed in its pure powdered form. Fentanyl pills generally are pressed from varying amounts of pure fentanyl and do not contain other substances, though, fentanyl itself may be found added to other stimulants. As Whipple described:

“We’re seeing it not just in pressed pills but also seeing it in stimulants and cannabis. There’s even been some busts in gummy bears that have had fentanyl in it, so it’s all over the place.”

The individual dangers posed by fentanyl largely come down to the potency of the substance and the ease of addiction. In its baseline form, fentanyl is roughly one thousand times stronger than morphine, with individual doses being measured in milligrams.

The other facet of risk is their uniquely addictive nature. As Taylor described, “the high that the user gets from it is kind of a euphoric short-term high which leads to it being more addictive because you have to use it more often and your tolerance builds up fast. So, you end up using more often and your tolerance is suddenly out of control and that is where your addiction can take off.”

Further complicating the matter is that Fentanyl addiction is relatively fluid in the demographic it affects, with no discernable race, gender or socioeconomic group being uniquely impacted over others. As Whipple further described, “the stereotypical drug addict no longer exists. This crosses all kinds of socioeconomic lines, it breaks down all barriers, it doesn’t care who you are. Addiction affects everybody.” This reach, according to Taylor and Whipple, has seen fentanyl dropped in grocery stores, gas stations and “places we would never have thought.”

With the potential reach, it’s important to recognize the potential signs that someone could be suffering from addiction. These can include:

Spending and financial problems
Changes in mood or rapid mood swings
Constantly calling in sick to work or school
Previously engaged or involved persons isolating themselves from friends or family
Persons spending time with new and untrustworthy individuals without introducing them to friends and family
Presences of tinfoil, straws or pens that could be used for smoking
Dirty residue on the fingers

Signs that someone may currently be under the effect of fentanyl include:

Pinpoint pupils
Slurred speech
Nodding out (drowsy or falling asleep mid-sentence)

Despite the dangers and reach of the opiate, the situation is far from hopeless. For example, the risk of overdoses can be mitigated via the use of Narcan, a substance, commonly a nasal spray, capable of reversing the effects of lethal drug overdoses. Narcan can be picked up from pharmacies, given from a doctor’s prescription or even by the CHD and similar groups at no cost to the public. As lack of oxygen can cause damage to the brain within three minutes, The CHD recommends carrying Narcan regardless of if a person is in contact with an addict. In addition, Narcan can be used for any overdose case, such as accidental ingestion of prescription pills by young children or by persons on pain medications following surgery.

The CHD is, of course, continuing work to combat addiction directly with their substance use team. Members of the team conduct outreach to those dealing with substance abuse to help get them detoxed and capable of supporting themselves again. For those struggling with addiction, know someone who is, or who have questions about Narcan, call the CHD’s Hope Line at 541-562-HOPE to be connected by a substance abuse disorder provider. Anyone can also visit the CHD in person and request to speak with a member of the substance use team.