Getting Help for Fentanyl Abuse and Addiction
Fentanyl is an opioid substance known for its tremendous potency. This potency makes the opioid a high risk for life-threatening overdoses. It also makes fentanyl a high risk for abuse and addiction. You can avoid these serious problems by entering a fentanyl rehab program. Programs of this type rely on a range of treatments to help you regain your sobriety and avoid future use.
Fentanyl rehab near you is an essential treatment resource. A well-designed local program not only helps you meet your recovery goals. It also makes getting the help you need as convenient as possible. Together, these two factors increase the odds that you will enter and complete an effective fentanyl program.
What Is Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid. This means that it contains none of the raw ingredients that naturally occur in opium poppies. Instead, it contains manmade chemicals that mimic those raw ingredients. In its legitimate form, the drug is a prescription medication. Brand-name forms of this medication include:
- Duragesic
- Sublimaze
- Actiq
Much of the legally produced fentanyl in the U.S. is not used for legitimate purposes. Instead, it is redirected into illegal channels of distribution. In addition, a significant amount of the nation’s fentanyl supply comes from clandestine labs.
Why Is Fentanyl so Dangerous
Overdose Risks
Fentanyl has a chemical structure similar to that of the naturally occurring opioid morphine, which is used to make heroin. However, the typical dose of the drug is at least 50 times stronger than an equivalent dose of morphine. This extreme potency greatly boosts the chances that you will overdose on fentanyl. In fact, most of the nation’s fatal drug overdoses are the result of using fentanyl or another synthetic opioid.
Addiction Risks
The potency of fentanyl also increases the odds that you will develop opioid addiction. Addiction occurs when you:
- Become physically and psychologically dependent on fentanyl
- Start compulsively seeking out more of the drug to use
Addiction is just one aspect of opioid use disorder, or OUD. You can also meet the criteria for this disorder without getting addicted to fentanyl. This happens when non-addicted abuse of the drug seriously disrupts your day-to-day life.
What Are the Signs of Fentanyl Addiction
The symptoms and signs of fentanyl addiction are the same as those for all other forms of opioid addiction. They include:
- Losing the ability to control how much fentanyl you use and/or how often you use it
- Having strong cravings for the drug when not using it
- Not halting fentanyl use even when it is obviously harming your health
- Replacing other activities you once enjoyed with fentanyl use
- Requiring larger and larger doses of fentanyl so you can feel its effects
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using the drug
- Having a routine based around acquiring, taking or recovering from fentanyl
- Failing to halt your fentanyl use after trying to quit multiple times
You may also be affected by symptoms and signs of damaging fentanyl abuse. Indicators of this problem include:
- Using fentanyl more than once while doing risky things like using machinery or driving
- Not following through on important obligations as a result of your fentanyl use
- Continuing your fentanyl use despite the damage it produces in your relationships
Addiction and abuse are not entirely separate issues. They may overlap in any given case of OUD.
Is Medical Detox Needed for Fentanyl
Medical detox is a supervised process that helps you safely withdraw from an addictive substance. It does this, in part, by lessening the mental and physical impact of withdrawal. It also helps protect you from any unexpected problems during withdrawal.
Not everyone who uses fentanyl needs to go through detox. This is true because not all users of the drug become addicted. However, as a rule, if you are addicted to fentanyl, you need a detox program.
Detox is essential in these circumstances for a couple of reasons. First, fentanyl withdrawal can make you feel extremely unwell. Without the support of detox, you may find the process unbearable. As a result, you may decide to halt withdrawal by using more fentanyl. In other words, you return to a pattern of addicted use.
If you start using fentanyl again without completing withdrawal, you can also increase your overdose risks. Why? Your body will be more susceptible to the drug’s effects. For this reason, a dose you once tolerated well could now potentially kill you. Supervised detox provides the help you need to avoid this frightening possibility.
While in fentanyl detox, you will almost certainly receive temporary help from either of two opioid medications:
- Buprenorphine
- Fentanyl
These medications allow you to stop using fentanyl without experiencing severe withdrawal. However, they do not produce feelings of euphoria or encourage further abuse. Medical detox for fentanyl will also provide general support for your health and well-being. The goal is to help you reach a sober state and continue your recovery in primary treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Fentanyl
Medication-assisted treatment for fentanyl addiction is the norm in effective rehab programs. Addiction specialists typically refer to this treatment as MAT. MAT provides comprehensive, holistic support. It does so by promoting your recovery with both medication and therapy.
The medication you receive in a MAT program is designed to do essential things such as:
- Correct some of the brain changes that support ongoing addiction
- Help you avoid a relapse by reducing your fentanyl cravings
- Stop future doses of fentanyl from producing their usual drug effects
The therapies used in MAT programs are behavioral. They are designed to:
- Steer you away from behaviors that support addiction
- Help you develop other behaviors that support your sobriety
- Provide you with real-world coping skills that make it easier to stay drug-free
- Ensure that you take advantage of peer support as well as formal treatment
It is common to receive multiple kinds of therapy in pursuit of these important goals.
The Benefits of a Fentanyl Rehab That Uses MAT
MAT programs are known to provide a range of benefits for fentanyl rehab. The list of these benefits includes:
- Improving your chances of staying in rehab
- Decreasing the odds that you will use any opioid substance
- Reducing your chances of dying from an opioid-related cause
- Helping you find and keep a job after your complete your rehab program
What Makes a Good Fentanyl Rehab
How can you tell if a fentanyl rehab near you will have its desired positive effects? A properly designed rehab follows the modern principles of addiction treatment. These principles include:
- Viewing addiction as a chronic, treatable disease
- Realizing that effective treatment is customized to meet individual needs
- Following substance detox with primary treatment
- Using both behavioral therapy and medication in appropriate ways
- Taking active steps to help you avoid a relapse
A good fentanyl rehab is also aware that you may have other mental health issues in addition to addiction. As a result, they assess you for these kinds of issues. They also provide treatment for any combined symptoms of addiction and mental illness.
The treatment environment at a rehab near you is also important. Well-designed facilities are comfortable and safe. They also reduce outside distractions and help you focus on the goals of recovery.
Finding a Fentanyl Rehab Near Me
For many people in recovery, finding a nearby fentanyl rehab program is a major plus. This makes sense since finding a fentanyl rehab near you contributes to a more convenient treatment process. In turn, greater convenience increases the chances that you will actually seek treatment. And when that treatment is effective, it increases your chances of getting and staying sober.
Long-Term Recovery From Fentanyl Is Here at Pathfinders
Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid known for its overdose and addiction risks. To avoid these risks, you need the specialized support provided by a fentanyl rehab program. Effective programs of this type rely on both medication and behavioral therapy. This combination is known as MAT, or medication-assisted treatment. MAT helps you create a durable, substance-free lifestyle. It also has a number of additional proven benefits.
For top-quality fentanyl rehab, turn to the professionals at Pathfinders. Our specialized fentanyl program follow all modern principles of effective treatment. We provide this treatment in comfortable surroundings that enhance your recovery experience. Whether you need inpatient or outpatient care, you’ll find the same level of dedication and expertise. Ready to get started? Call us today to learn how to get your fentanyl treatment underway.
