Oklahoma Fentanyl Awareness Guide

Written by: University of Tulsa   •  Mar 7, 2024

Oklahoma Fentanyl Awareness Guide

The opioid epidemic shows no signs of abating. And at the heart of this public health crisis that has been sweeping through the United States for years is fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. This guide is dedicated to shedding light on the complexities and dangers of fentanyl, particularly in the state of Oklahoma.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the severity of the Oklahoma fentanyl situation. Oklahoma experienced a 152% rise in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2020. This spike is indicative of the growing impact of fentanyl misuse and underscores the need for heightened awareness and understanding among health care professionals.

The importance of having comprehensive knowledge about fentanyl is particularly crucial for current health care practitioners and aspiring professionals like nursing students. To be able to address the crisis, they need to understand the drug’s effects, how to identify signs of misuse, and which treatment methods are most effective.

Education and proactive awareness are crucial in combating fentanyl misuse. This involves more than treating symptoms; it’s about grasping the root causes and working toward preventive solutions. Explore the specifics of fentanyl, the situation in Oklahoma, and practical approaches to overcoming this ongoing challenge. Equipped with up-to-date information, health care workers, students, and the general public can better understand and confront the fentanyl epidemic in Oklahoma.

Understanding Fentanyl

Fentanyl stands out in the world of synthetic opioids for its extreme potency and the complex challenges it presents to public health. Initially formulated for managing severe pain in cancer patients, fentanyl has since found a more notorious place in the landscape of drug misuse. Its medical purpose was rooted in its ability to provide potent pain relief, particularly for those undergoing intense treatments like chemotherapy. However, the same potency that makes it a valuable medical tool also renders it dangerous when misused.

Just a small dose, mere micrograms, can be lethal, making the margin for error in dosing incredibly narrow. This characteristic significantly heightens the risk of overdose, especially when users are unaware they are taking it. Often, fentanyl is illicitly mixed with other drugs like heroin or cocaine, amplifying the potency and unpredictability of these substances.

The popularity of fentanyl among illicit drug manufacturers and dealers stems from its powerful opioid properties and its relative ease of synthesis and distribution. It can be produced in a lab setting, bypassing the agricultural processes required to make natural opioids like heroin. This ease of production, combined with its high potency, has contributed to its widespread illegal circulation and its notorious reputation as a significant catalyst in the opioid epidemic.

Understanding fentanyl’s place in the opioid crisis requires acknowledging its dual nature. On the one hand, it provides highly effective relief to patients with severe pain. On the other, its misuse leads to grave public health consequences, including a high incidence of fatal overdoses. This duality makes fentanyl a complex and critical topic in discussions about opioid misuse, treatment, and policies aimed at controlling the current epidemic. Health care professionals and public health authorities need to be able to fully grasp the nuances of fentanyl’s properties to be able to devise effective strategies to combat its illicit use and prevent the tragic outcomes associated with its misuse.

Fentanyl in Oklahoma

Oklahoma, like many other states, is facing a critical challenge due to a marked increase in fentanyl-related incidents. This alarming trend, particularly evident in recent years, highlights a significant public health crisis within the state. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has reported a substantial rise in fentanyl-related fatalities, specifically noting a dramatic escalation between 2021 and 2023. This increase is not just a local anomaly but a reflection of a broader, national issue reflected in similar trends across the United States.

The Oklahoma fentanyl statistics are indicative of the larger, more pervasive problem of opioid misuse and the specific dangers of fentanyl. The potency of fentanyl, coupled with its often clandestine inclusion in other substances, contributes to the high rate of overdoses and fatalities in users. This trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive awareness and intervention strategies. It also highlights the importance of having timely and accurate reporting and monitoring systems to be able to understand the full scope of the crisis and implement effective preventive measures.

The situation in Oklahoma demonstrates the need for a multifaceted approach that includes education, law enforcement, health care interventions, and community outreach to effectively combat this growing epidemic. The state’s experience with fentanyl offers valuable lessons on the impacts of this potent drug and the necessity for proactive measures to safeguard communities against its devastating effects.

Fentanyl Misuse and Its Impacts

Below are resources to learn more about the impacts of fentanyl misuse.

• Increased Health Care Costs: The treatment of fentanyl overdoses and related complications adds a significant financial burden to health care systems. Resources such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse provide extensive research on the economic impacts of opioid misuse.

• Emotional Burden on Families: The emotional toll on families affected by fentanyl misuse is immeasurable. Resources like the National Helpline provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer support for families dealing with substance misuse.

• Strain on Health Care System: Emergency rooms and treatment facilities are often overwhelmed with cases of opioid overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl. The CDC’s Opioid Overdose site provides data and resources for health care providers.

Challenges for Health Care Professionals

These resources are particularly helpful to health care professionals.

• Diagnosing a Fentanyl Overdose: The rapid onset of fentanyl overdose symptoms can be challenging to diagnose, especially when the use of the drug is unknown. The American Society of Addiction Medicine provides guidelines and training for professionals.

• Treating Overdoses: Due to its potency, fentanyl overdoses require prompt and often higher doses of naloxone (an emergency medication to reverse opioid overdose) than other opioids. Training resources and protocols can be found at the National Harm Reduction Coalition’s website.

Understanding the unique challenges posed by fentanyl, including how to diagnose and treat overdoses, is a critical aspect of addressing the opioid crisis. By leveraging the resources available, health care providers, policymakers, and the public can work together to mitigate the impacts of fentanyl misuse.

Safety and Prevention Strategies

In the face of the growing fentanyl crisis, safety and prevention are paramount. Here are key strategies that should be implemented to address this challenge by mitigating the risks associated with opioid use.

Responsible Opioid Prescribing by Health Professionals

Health care providers must adhere to strict guidelines when prescribing opioids. This involves:

• Assessing Patients’ Histories: Carefully evaluating a patient’s medical history and checking for any potential risk factors for substance misuse before prescribing opioids

• Following Prescribing Guidelines: Using resources like the CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain to safely and responsibly prescribe opioids

• Monitoring and Follow-Up: Regularly monitoring patients on opioid prescriptions for signs of dependence or misuse

Vigilance for Signs of Misuse

It’s crucial that health care professionals are able to recognize signs of opioid misuse, which include:

• Frequent Requests for Refills: An unusually high frequency of requests for opioid prescriptions

• Changes in Behavior: Noticeable behavioral changes or erratic behavior

• Physical Signs: Physical symptoms such as slurred speech, drowsiness, or confusion

Community Education

Educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl is a key prevention strategy.

• Fentanyl Awareness Campaigns: Implementing community-based programs to educate people about the potency of fentanyl and the risks of opioid misuse

• School-Based Fentanyl Awareness Programs: Introducing educational initiatives in schools to inform young people about the dangers of drug use, particularly the use of opioids

Treatment and Support for Addiction

Providing accessible treatment options and support for those struggling with addiction is critical.

• Addiction Treatment Programs: Encouraging the use of evidence-based treatment programs for opioid addiction, such as medication-assisted therapy (MAT)

• Support Groups: Facilitating or providing information about fentanyl support groups and recovery programs, like those offered by SAMHSA

Recovery Support

Post-treatment support is vital for sustained recovery.

• Counseling Services: Providing or referring patients to counseling services to support their mental health and prevent relapse

• Community Support Systems: Establishing strong community support systems to assist individuals in maintaining their recovery

Tackling the fentanyl crisis requires a multidimensional approach. Health care professionals need to prescribe opioids responsibly, stay vigilant for misuse, and support those struggling with addiction. At the same time, community education and robust treatment and recovery support systems are essential. Together, these strategies can help reduce the incidence of fentanyl misuse and its devastating consequences.

Resources for Learning About Oklahoma Fentanyl Misuse

Sources providing comprehensive and reliable information on fentanyl misuse and its impacts range from government reports and academic research to specialized agencies offering treatment and recovery services.

These resources offer a broad perspective on fentanyl, from its pharmacological properties and epidemiological data to treatment strategies and public health policies. They can provide invaluable assistance to health care professionals, policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding and addressing the fentanyl crisis.

Below is a bibliography of key sources for further reading and research on fentanyl in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State

The state government of Oklahoma tasks several departments with providing valuable resources to individuals dealing with substance misuse, including treatment and recovery services specific to Oklahoma.

• The Oklahoma Department of Health’s Opioid Prescribing Guidelines provides clinicians with resources for prescribing substances.

• The Oklahoma Department of Health offers resources for understanding and preventing fentanyl misuse.

• The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services oversees all mental health and substance misuse treatment, prevention, and training for the state of Oklahoma.

• Community-Based Structured Crisis Centers, regulated by the state of Oklahoma, provide nonhospital emergency services to individuals with substance use disorders.

Many tribes of Oklahoma also provide resources to American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents and adults.

• Ponca Tribe’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)

• Kiowa Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program

• Quapaw Counseling Services

Academic Research on Fentanyl

Many professional journals offer a wealth of information on the medical and psychological aspects of opioid addiction. These can be helpful resources for health care professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the crisis.

• The American Journal of Psychiatry

• Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment

Mental Health Services and Harm Reduction

For comprehensive and updated information, the following additional resources are also recommended.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

• National Harm Reduction Coalition

Nursing Professionals Can Help

The escalating crisis of Oklahoma fentanyl misuse presents a complex and urgent challenge. Fentanyl’s potency and prevalence have led to a significant increase in overdoses and fatalities, deeply affecting communities across the state. The situation calls for a multifaceted approach, combining diligent health care practices, informed policymaking, robust public education, and accessible treatment and support services.

For nurses in Oklahoma, strict adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines, heightened vigilance in looking for signs of misuse, and a commitment to providing compassionate care and support to those struggling with addiction are crucial. The role of community education cannot be overstated — raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl is key to preventing misuse and saving lives.

While the challenge is significant, these resources and strategies offer a path forward. Through education, prevention, treatment, and community support, there is hope for effectively addressing the fentanyl epidemic in Oklahoma and beyond.