The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports a steady rise in cases of overdose deaths that involve fentanyl or fentanyl analogs for the last two decades. The use of fentanyl increased astoundingly during the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns. This synthetic opioid is available cheaply and easily.
You can get fentanyl as pills, nasal sprays, lozenges, and transdermal patches. Doctors use this substance in combination with other medications to relieve pain in cancer patients and as an anesthetic.
However, this substance is addictive. Fentanyl addiction can be dangerous and a challenge to get rid of.
Dangerously potent
Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine!
Just a small dose can give an intense high.
That’s the reason this synthetic opioid is more dangerous than morphine and heroin.
Once you become an addict to this opioid, you just can’t get rid of it on your own. And you shouldn’t. It can be fatal. You must enroll in a drug rehab program.
Can you tell somebody is addicted to fentanyl by looking at them?
Certain behavior can tell an addict apart. For example, the person might stay in a euphoric state for no reason. This is usually followed by a depressed or confused state. He or she may appear drowsy or sleepy at odd hours. You can sense a change in speech and their gait.
In addition, addicts experience skin irritation, hallucinations, shallow and slow breathing, anxiety, and paranoia.
If you detect somebody in your family or peer group with the above signs, please call the addiction hotline today.
Withdrawal symptoms of fentanyl
Due to the highly addictive nature of fentanyl, its withdrawal symptoms are intense too. They include:
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in muscles and bones
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Pain in abdomen
- Constipation
- Tremors
- Seizures
Benefits of rehab program
Colorado drug rehab specialists help addicts go through the symptoms in the safest manner possible. They conduct drug detox and a series of therapies to help the patient fight the symptoms for long-term sobriety.
The benefit of a rehab program is that the specialist team works to minimize the withdrawal symptoms so that you stay out of danger and are better able to work towards de-addiction.
This is almost impossible on your own at home.
Fentanyl withdrawal is as dangerous as its addiction.
Addicts not only suffer from nutritional deficiencies, but also an alteration in their behavior. The rehab team consists of specialists from the medical field, psychology, and social workers, who work together to help the person emerge a winner in his/her fight with addiction. Long-term sobriety is the goal here.
Certain addicts might be suffering from health complications, physical or mental. It is important to address health issues simultaneously as the detox program goes on to avoid relapse later in life.
De-addiction does not mean only stopping the use of drugs. It also means creating the foundation of a sober and successful life ahead. It’s like starting a new chapter in your life.
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