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Fentanyl Addiction

Treatment Fentanyl

Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is a potent and dangerous opioid drug. Creekside Recovery Group provides treatment programs and services to help you or a loved one overcome fentanyl addiction.

Fentanyl abuse and addiction are widespread problems that have had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities throughout the United States. Anyone who abuses fentanyl is jeopardizing their health and risking their life. But if a person receives effective care at a reputable fentanyl rehab program, they can regain control of their behaviors, end their fentanyl use, and achieve successful, long-term recovery.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is an extremely powerful and highly addictive drug. It is a synthetic opioid, which means that it shares certain features with substances such as morphine and heroin.

Medical professionals began to use fentanyl as an analgesic (painkiller) in the 1960s. In 2017, fentanyl was added to the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines. Today, it is often used as a surgical anesthetic or prescribed to people who have been experiencing severe pain, often as a result of surgery or cancer.

Fentanyl interacts with receptors in the central nervous system that are associated with pain, respiration, and mood. Unfortunately, the euphoric effects of fentanyl have made this drug popular among people who are seeking a certain type of recreational high.

As we will discuss a bit later on this page, recreational fentanyl abuse is an extremely dangerous behavior that can lead to an array of negative outcomes, including addiction, overdose, and death.

Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction

Anyone who uses fentanyl is at risk of becoming addicted to the drug. The following are common signs and symptoms of fentanyl addiction:

  • They attempt to buy, borrow, or steal fentanyl that has been prescribed to someone else.
  • They spend considerable amounts of time seeking fentanyl, using the drug, and recovering from its effects.
  • When they are prevented from acquiring or using fentanyl, they experience physical and psychological distress.
  • They are frequently absent from school or work due to their fentanyl use.
  • They lie to friends and family members about the amount and frequency of their fentanyl use.
  • Their fentanyl use has been a source of conflict within their personal relationships.
  • They use fentanyl in ways that are especially hazardous, such as by combining it with alcohol or other drugs.
  • They continue to use fentanyl even after incurring physical, psychological, or social damage as a direct result of prior use.
  • They prioritize fentanyl use over their personal, academic, and occupational responsibilities.
  • They want to stop using fentanyl, but they are unable to do so.

How Addictive Is Fentanyl?

Several respected sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that fentanyl can be up to 50 times more powerful than heroin and as much as 100 times stronger than morphine.

Fentanyl’s potency means that a person can become addicted to the drug very quickly. It also means that fentanyl use poses a significant risk of overdose. Because fentanyl is such a potent substance, doctors typically do not prescribe it to patients unless they have previously received – and become tolerant of – morphine or other prescription opioids.

To underscore the power and danger of fentanyl, the CDC has reported that synthetic opioids (the category that includes fentanyl) were responsible for more than 56,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2020. This number of synthetic opioid overdose deaths represented a 56% increase from 2019 and an increase of more than 1800% from 2013.

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What Type of Fentanyl Addiction Treatment is Available?

If you need fentanyl rehab, it’s important to understand the range of options that are available to you. For example, if you participate in a program that is part of the Creekside Recovery Network, you can receive treatment at one or more of the following levels:

  • Detoxification: Our network offers medical detox, which incorporates prescription medication, medical oversight, and therapeutic support to help you withdraw from fentanyl safely and with as little discomfort as possible. Given how difficult it can be to get through fentanyl withdrawal on your own, detox can be a vital component of successful treatment.
  • Residential treatment: While you are in residential rehab for fentanyl addiction, you will live at the treatment center. Features of residential treatment include full days of care, multiple types of therapy, comfortable patient rooms, nutritious meals, and round-the-clock supervision.
  • Partial hospitalization program: PHPs typically offer full days of treatment five days per week, but they don’t have a residential requirement. When the PHP is not in session, you can return to your home, to a sober living house, or to another supported residence.
  • Intensive outpatient program: At the IOP level, you may receive partial days of treatment a few days each week. Group therapy is often the main mode of care at the IOP level, though other services may also be offered when appropriate. As with PHPs, IOPs do not have a residential component.
  • Outpatient treatment: Outpatient treatment offers the greatest degree of flexibility while still providing you with a structured connection to clinical care. You may schedule outpatient sessions at the frequency that best meets your needs and goals.

Some people who enter a fentanyl rehab program participate in multiple levels of care. They may start with detox, then transition into residential treatment. After completing residential care, they may step down to a PHP, IOP, or outpatient program for additional support. In other cases, people may only need to receive care at one or two levels.

Decisions about level-of-care placement and other aspects of treatment for fentanyl addiction should always be based on what is best for each person.

What to Expect at a Fentanyl Rehab Program?

Your experience at a fentanyl rehab can vary depending on a variety of individual factors, including your age, how long you have been addicted to fentanyl, if you have any co-occurring  mental health concerns, and which level of care you are in. In general, though, if you select a quality fentanyl rehab program, you should expect the following features:

  • Safe environment: Your environment can have a profound impact on your health. While you are in a fentanyl rehab, you should expect to be in a safe and supportive place where you will not have access to addictive substances.
  • Personalized service: Treatment for fentanyl addiction should never be a one-size-fits-all experience. Your fentanyl rehab plan should be based on a thorough assessment of your history, needs, and goals.
  • Compassionate support: In addition to providing quality clinical services, fentanyl rehab treatment professionals should also be valuable sources of compassion, motivation, and inspiration.
  • Aftercare planning: Before you transition out of fentanyl rehab, you should receive a discharge plan that outlines your aftercare options. This plan should include information about the services and resources that can support your continued recovery efforts.

Find a Fentanyl Treatment Center Near You

Facilities within the Creekside Recovery Network offer personalized fentanyl addiction treatment services at several convenient locations. When you begin your recovery journey at one of our fentanyl rehabs, you can receive customized care from a team of skilled and dedicated professionals. Untreated fentanyl addiction can inflict considerable damage – but effective professional assistance is available. With our help, you can live a much healthier and more hopeful life. Contact us today to learn more.

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