By We Level Up | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: January 26, 2023

What Does Fentanyl Look Like?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid drug that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is often added to illicit street drugs such as fake pills and white powder. Counterfeit pills with hues of blue, green, or pastel are frequently found to contain fentanyl. There could be other colors too. What does powder fentanyl look like? Fentanyl can also be found as white powders, with the markings “M30” and, on occasion, “K9,” “215,” and “v48” on the tablets.

Fentanyl Overdose Statistics

According to the DEA, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in January 2022.  A staggering 67% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. [5] f you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose, especially those struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), you should carry naloxone and keep it at home. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose of opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications—when given in time.

People who are taking high-dose opioid medications (greater or equal to 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day) prescribed by a doctor, people who use opioids and benzodiazepines together, and people who use illicit opioids like heroin should all carry naloxone. Because you can’t use naloxone on yourself, let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.

What Does Fentanyl Patches Look Like?

The fentanyl transdermal system, which is available as a generic product and marketed under the brand name Duragesic, is a patch prescribed by healthcare providers to be applied to the skin. The patch treats opioid-tolerant patients who need daily, around-the-clock, long-term pain medicine by releasing fentanyl through the skin over the course of the treatment. The patch is generally replaced every three days. However, people should be warned about the dangers of accidental exposure to the fentanyl patch, and the need to properly store and dispose of the product.

Fentanyl patches may be habit-forming, especially with prolonged use.  Fentanyl, like all opioids, should be stored securely. If you have naloxone, tell your family about it, and keep naloxone in a place where family, friends, and close contacts can easily get it in an emergency. If you have naloxone, advise family and friends on how to administer it in the event of accidental exposure or overdose. 

Fentanyl patches may cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems, especially during the first 24 to 72 hours of your treatment and any time your dose is increased. Your doctor will monitor you carefully during your treatment. Because of this serious risk, fentanyl patches should only be used to treat people who are tolerant (used to the effects of the medication) to opioid medications because they have taken this type of medication for at least one week and should not be used to treat mild or moderate pain, short-term pain, pain after an operation or medical or dental procedure, or pain that can be controlled by medication that is taken as needed. [7]

What Does a Fentanyl Overdose Look Like?

If symptoms of an overdose occur, a friend or family member should give the first dose of naloxone, call 911 immediately, stay with you and watch you closely until emergency medical help arrives. Your symptoms may return within a few minutes after you receive naloxone. If your symptoms return, the person should give you another dose of naloxone. Additional doses may be given every 2 to 3 minutes if symptoms return before medical help arrives. For more information about naloxone, visit the Narcan treatment page. Narcan nasal spray is the first nasal formulation of naloxone to be FDA-approved to treat known or suspected opioid overdose.

Fentanyl Overdose Symptoms

What does fentanyl overdose look like? Symptoms of a fentanyl overdose may include the following:

• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Slow, shallow breathing, or stopped breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Smaller pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
• Unable to respond or wake up

Fentanyl Overdose Treatment 

While using fentanyl, you should talk to your doctor about having a rescue medication called naloxone readily available (e.g., at home, or the office). Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood. Your doctor may also prescribe you naloxone if you are living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs.

You should make sure that you and your family members, caregivers, or the people who spend time with you know how to tell recognize an overdose, how to use naloxone, and what to do until emergency medical help arrives. Your doctor or pharmacist will show you and your family members how to use the medication. Ask your pharmacist for the instructions or visit the manufacturer’s website to get the instructions.

Naloxone is available in all 50 states. If you have been prescribed high-dose opioids, talk to your doctor about co-prescribing naloxone. However, in most states, you can get naloxone at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing a fentanyl overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose—you could save a life.

Call 911 Immediately.*

Administer naloxone, if available.

Try to keep the person awake and breathing.

Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.

Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.

*Most states have laws that may protect a person who is overdosing or the person who called for help from legal trouble. [8]

What does fentanyl pill look like? Illicitly manufactured fentanyl can be in powder or tablet form. Fentanyl powder is placed on blotter paper, nasal sprays, or eye droppers. Color varies from off-white to light brown, similar to other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine. Fentanyl can also be found in counterfeit pills that look like real prescription opioids. What does fentanyl candy look like? The alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl” made it look like candy. Fentanyl pills and powder which come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—are a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction among kids and young adults.

Signs of Fentanyl Abuse

What does fentanyl look like and common symptoms of misusing? Some of the signs someone is on fentanyl or abusing fentanyl include:

While the above are signs of someone taking fentanyl, there are also long-term effects that develop if someone chronically abuses the drug. Some of these include gastrointestinal problems, a weakened immune system, and the potential for seizures to occur. With the chronic use of fentanyl, sedative effects may increase over time as well. What does fentanyl look like and the signs of addiction? You may also notice someone is on fentanyl if they go through behavioral or mental changes including paranoia, social withdrawal, a loss of motivation, or other personal changes.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

Substance abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. In this strategy, both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Inpatient Rehab

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use disorders and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

If you or a loved one are struggling with long-term polysubstance abuse and a co-occurring mental health condition such as anxiety and depression, contact one of our helpful treatment specialists today. We Level Up can provide information on dual diagnosis and detox programs that may fit your specific needs.

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use disorder or living with fentanyl addiction, reach out to We Level Up addiction rehab center to get started with admission and treatment options.

Top 8 Fentanyl What Does It Look Like? FAQs