Originally written on: Friday, 08 December 2017 Last edited on: Thursday, 31 October 2019

Fentanyl Detox & Rehab Treatments in the United States

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is an opioid synthetic analgesic. It is just like morphine but is about a hundred times more potent. It is used to treat patients who witness moderate to severe pain. It is often used to prevent patients suffering pain after surgery.

Opioid Prescribing Rates in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at opioid prescribing rates between 2006 and 2017 for state and county per 100 US residents. In 2006 there was a steady increase in the overall national opioid prescribing rates. In 2012 the prescribing rates in the nation peaked at more than 255 million opioid prescriptions and a prescribing rate of 81.3 per 100 persons. Between 2012 and 2017, the overall national opioid prescribing rate declined and in 2017, the prescribing rate had reached its lowest point since 2006. However, in 2017 prescribing rates of pain medication remain high in some regions of the country. It is estimated that in 16% of American counties, there were enough opioid prescriptions dispensed for every person in the nation to have one.

The overall opioid prescribing rate in 2017 was 58.7 prescriptions per 100 people, and some counties had prescribing rates that were around seven times higher. The prescribing rates for prescription pain medication vary significantly across the different counties and states. Most states that have implemented better prescription drug tracking programs, safe disposal programs, and other prescribing laws have seen decreases in prescribing rates. However, prescription pain medication misuse remains high throughout the nation, and many states struggle to meet the growing need of people requiring treatment.

How long will Fentanyl show up on a drug test?

Fentanyl is an opiate which has a half-life of about 2 up to 4 hours. That means that after every 2-4 hours, half of it gets eliminated from your body. Thus, it can be detected up to 24 hours after last use. Higher dosages can lead to higher detection times.

Is Fentanyl addictive?

Being a synthetic pain reliever, Fentanyl can very well be abused as it is truly easy to get addicted to it. Thus, once prescribed to a patient, it needs to be strictly monitored, so that overuse of the drug does not take place; leading to addiction. It is about 50 times stronger than morphine and is known to be highly addictive.

What are the signs of Fentanyl addiction?

Being an opiate, fentanyl has the regular signs and symptoms of an opiate. However other signs include nausea, hallucinations, difficulty sleeping, severe constipation, and suppression of breathing. These signs call for immediate medical attention.

How to detox from Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a very potent and dangerous drug, and the detox from this drug will require medical help. When prescribed Fentanyl, users of the drug always taper off the drug, because withdrawal pains can be dangerous. Medical detox centers offer the best support to ensure withdrawal symptoms are managed properly.

How to treat Fentanyl addiction

Fentanyl is a very potent pain medication that is still prescribed for severe chronic cases of pain. The abuse or misuse of Fentanyl must be treated correctly, because withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Properly equipped medical detox, followed by specific counseling or therapy is the most effective approach to treat Fentanyl addiction.

Where can I get help for Fentanyl addiction?

Because of how dangerous Fentanyl is, it is not common for opiate addicts to be using this drug every day to maintain their opioid habit. However, if someone is addicted to Fentanyl, they can find help through local medical detox and inpatient drug rehabilitation.

How long does Fentanyl stay in your system?

Drug testing for Fentanyl can be done in 4 ways:

• Urine tests: effective up to 8-24 hours
• Blood tests: effective for up to 12 hours after the last dose has been taken
• Saliva tests: effective for up to 1-3 days after use
• Hair tests: 3 months after use; hair test is the most accurate way for detection