Fentanyl Detox

Orange County, CA

The Fentanyl Crisis

Why It’s Different and Deadly?

Fentanyl is now the leading driver of opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. and California. While overall overdose deaths have started to decline nationally in 2024, synthetic opioids—especially illicitly manufactured fentanyl—remain involved in the vast majority of fatal overdoses. In many regions, including California, fentanyl is showing up hidden inside other substances (cocaine, meth, pressed pills, etc.), dramatically raising the risk of accidental overdose.

Locally, opioid-related deaths surged in recent years with fentanyl playing a dominant role; medical examiners and public health officials continue to sound the alarm about its potency and ubiquity.

Why Fentanyl Is So Dangerous?

• Up to 100× stronger than morphine, meaning a tiny amount can be fatal.

• Often mixed into other drugs (heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills) without users’ knowledge, creating unpredictable overdose risk.

• Rapid tolerance and dependence—the brain resets its baseline quickly, prompting more frequent use just to feel “normal.”

• High relapse/overdose risk if withdrawal is attempted alone or without medical support. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Common Names You’ll See

Street / Illicit Nicknames: 

• Fetty

• Fet

• Apace

• China White

• China Town

• Dance Fever

• Good Fellas

• Great Bear

• Poison

• Tango & Cash

• H

• and others

How Fentanyl Affects the Body

Fentanyl binds strongly to opioid receptors that regulate pain and reward. With repeated exposure, the brain reduces its natural opioid production and adjusts its “set point,” making dependence and dysregulation almost inevitable without intervention. Short-term effects include:

• Euphoria followed by rapid mood swings

• Nausea, constipation

• Confusion, heavy sedation

• Respiratory depression which can progress to unconsciousness or death if not reversed quickly.

Withdrawal from Fentanyl

Fentanyl withdrawal can begin within hours of the last dose and is often intense—both physically and psychologically.

Common symptoms include:

• Chills and sweats

• Muscle aches and restless legs

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

• Insomnia

• Agitation, anxiety, panic

• Rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure

• Powerful cravings

• Depression / dysphoria

Attempting to detox alone (self-detox) frequently leads to relapse simply to escape the pain of withdrawal—this cycle dramatically increases overdose risk, especially if tolerance has dropped.