What is Fentanyl?
This means it is manufactured and not occurring naturally. Fentanyl is created, both legally and illegally, in labs across the world.
Reports show that fentanyl can be 50x more potent than heroin and 100x more powerful than morphine.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are responsible for over 150 deaths daily.
Fentanyl Use and Addiction
Though fentanyl is often discussed as a significant factor linked to overdose deaths, fentanyl has a high potential for abuse and addiction. A person can start abusing and become dependent on fentanyl in a variety of ways:
- Suppose a person starts taking fentanyl for recreational use. Someone could start their drug use with fentanyl or fentanyl with other drugs. For example, if someone is abusing painkillers and develops a tolerance for them. In that case, he could start abusing fentanyl as it is more potent and could develop an addiction to it over time.
- Suppose a person has a fentanyl prescription and takes more than the prescribed dosage. This can lead to further physical tolerance and the need to take even more fentanyl, and thus begins the cycle of abuse and potential addiction.
- Even if someone follows the prescription to its end, the person could develop a dependence on the drug, leading them to buy fentanyl illegally once their prescription is over. This can sometimes happen if the person starts feeling withdrawal symptoms once they stop taking the drug.
All Drug Rehabs Protect Individuals from Fentanyl
The risk of exposure to fentanyl exists for anyone using illicit drugs. Even if you do not seek out fentanyl directly, there is a strong chance the drug you choose to use has been tainted with the substance.
If you or your loved one is using drugs, they are at risk for fentanyl overdose. It is that simple. To prevent a tragedy from occurring, you should seek drug treatment and start looking for rehabilitation centers in your area.
Fentanyl Detox
Once fentanyl abuse or addiction has been identified, it is very important to seek help as soon as possible. Because of the drug’s potency, fentanyl users risk overdosing. The first step to look at in terms of treatment is detoxing. The point of detoxing is to abstain from taking fentanyl and letting the body eliminate the substance while managing the withdrawal symptoms. An excellent option for fentanyl detoxification is a medically supervised detox. There are many advantages to undergoing a medical detox program:
- Going away to detox is a great way to remove the triggers that can be present in the environment.
- It permits one to focus solely on getting better.
- Medical professionals can manage the withdrawal symptoms (with medication if necessary).
- It will be easier to transition directly to a comprehensive drug rehabilitation program.
Some rehabilitation facilities might offer all these services; others might have just a few. A professional assessment before planning rehabilitation can help one find the facility that will fulfill all their needs. For example, suppose a person never finished high school (because of drugs or other circumstances). In that case, they could find a rehab program that also offers GED classes or other educational services, giving them the tools needed to be productive once they complete the program.
The setting in which one goes through rehabilitation is another factor to consider. The two main settings are outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation. Whether outpatient or residential treatment is the best fit depends on several factors. Outpatient treatment will permit the person to continue their life and fulfill their obligations (family, work, etc.) while in recovery. However, people, the environment, and some life situations can trigger some people and increase their chances of relapsing. A residential rehab eliminates most of those triggers and puts the person in an environment solely dedicated to recovery.
Tips to Combat Fentanyl Use
- Learn about fentanyl abuse and addiction. Education is vital to understanding what fentanyl does to the person and the effects of addiction in general. It is also helpful to learn the recommended treatment plans for fentanyl addiction. Speaking to a professional such as one of our referral specialists can help you understand the treatment steps recommended for fentanyl addiction and the treatments available in your preferred area.
- Let them know in no uncertain terms that you are there to support them and that they need to get help. When having a conversation concerning their fentanyl problem, ensure they are sober and relaxed. If the person is under the influence or is preoccupied with other issues, the message might not get through and might be counterproductive.
- Do not enable the behavior associated with addiction. As you support your loved one, it is essential not to let this become enabling behavior. It is vital to support the person, but just as important to not support the addiction. Boundaries should be set to show the person that his fentanyl abuse will not be supported. This can include cutting off all financial assistance, for example. It is crucial to uphold these boundaries. The same concept applies to consequences. As you let the person know of the consequences they will face if they keep using fentanyl and don’t get help, the consequences must be met. Although it may seem unkind, you are helping the person. The real enemy is addiction.
- Persist in communicating with your loved one about their fentanyl problem and getting help. If you need help in this regard, you can hire a professional interventionist. Some rehabilitation facilities will provide an interventionist to help with the process. An intervention is a specific process with steps designed to make the person realize they have a problem and need treatment.
