FENTANYL ADDICTION DRUG REHABILITATION TREATMENT

The opioid fentanyl has a 50 to 100 times higher potency than morphine. Doctors may use it in critical care or for severe chronic pain that doesn’t respond to other drugs. Fentanyl’s high potency makes it an incredibly addictive and risky drug, especially in recreational use. Gateway Foundation is here to help patients with addictions to substances such as opioids like fentanyl. Our fentanyl drug rehabilitation centers in Illinois will support you in your recovery.

WHAT IS FENTANYL?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Because it doesn’t require access to fresh opium poppies, fentanyl is easier to produce than most opioids. Fentanyl is still used therapeutically today as a prescription analgesic. It’s primarily given in cases of severe or incurable pain, usually under the control of a doctor or in a hospital setting. Doctors frequently prescribe fentanyl for terminal cancer patients.

WHY IS FENTANYL SO DANGEROUS?

The danger of fentanyl comes from its potency. Compared to heroin, fentanyl can be up to 50 times stronger — and versus morphine, the drug can be 100 times more potent. Fentanyl is a narcotic pain reliever with a high risk of abuse. For that reason, fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II drug under U.S. law — meaning it can be prescribed for medical purposes, but a doctor must monitor its use because of its addictive properties.

Fentanyl is most often produced in laboratories, both illicitly and by legitimate drug companies. It’s so potent that professionals handling the drug only do so under extremely controlled conditions. Prescription fentanyl sometimes finds its way into the black market. However, Mexican laboratories often produce the illicit fentanyl most commonly sold on the streets.

THE HISTORY OF FENTANYL

Fentanyl was originally developed in 1959, and its use was quickly adopted in medical settings as a pain reliever. By the 1960s, fentanyl was sold as an intravenous anesthetic under the brand name Sublimaze^®. In the mid-1990s, fentanyl began being used in many other modes, including:

• Skin patches
• Tablets
• Nasal sprays
• Sublingual sprays
• Lozenges
• Lollipops

These slow-release options made the drug increasingly popular among those struggling with severe pain and terminally ill patients.

In 2007, fentanyl started being sold illicitly as an additive to heroin. Despite being potentially lethal, this illegal use of the drug is becoming more common today.

HOW IS FENTANYL USED ILLICITLY?

Fentanyl addiction rarely starts when the drug is prescribed in patch form. This mode is more easily monitored by doctors, and, in general, provides just enough relief to improve chronic pain in patients.

Users tend to be more at risk of addiction when prescribed the easily alterable pill form of fentanyl. However, whether a patch, a lozenge or another form of fentanyl, all formats are potent and potentially addictive. This is especially true if someone is desperate for a stronger, faster effect. Heating up the patch or ripping it open can cause users to get the whole dose at once, which puts users at risk of a fatal overdose.

When someone struggles with a fentanyl addiction, they usually purchase the drug illicitly, either alone or in a heroin mix. As a street drug, fentanyl is most often snorted, injected, taken as a pill or placed on blotter paper and put under the tongue.

TYPES OF TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR FENTANYL AND OPIOID ADDICTION

If you struggle with an addiction to fentanyl, professional, medical detox and treatment can help you break free. Treatment for opioid addiction aims to address its physical and emotional aspects for a higher chance of success. The services offered at a fentanyl drug addiction treatment center in Illinois may include:

• Medical services: Detox and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) help you manage the physical symptoms of addiction. These services allow you to reduce your opioid use and build recovery skills.
• Behavioral services: Addiction involves many behavioral patterns you can address through therapy and support. Your treatment team will help you build coping mechanisms that help you handle your urges to use fentanyl.
• Social services: Some treatment centers provide social services or can refer you to them. Community resources can help you resolve issues with employment, housing and other necessities.

Your experience with opioid addiction treatment will vary depending on your symptoms and the clinic you visit.

GATEWAY’S FENTANYL DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN ILLINOIS

When you visit Gateway as your Illinois fentanyl drug rehabilitation center, you get services that consider all aspects of health. Our drug addiction treatment programs include these elements:

• Medical support: Opioid addiction can harm your physical health. Our medical team will help you manage your withdrawal symptoms and take care of any related health problems.
• Patient community: At Gateway, we understand the value of community in recovery. Services such as group therapy and an alumni community help you stay connected with your fellow patients.
• Underlying condition treatment: Physical and mental health conditions can contribute to fentanyl misuse. We help you succeed in recovery by finding any underlying issues and building strategies to address them.
• Wellness support: We assist our patients with discovering passions outside of drug misuse. Some patients develop hobbies such as mindfulness, while others make plans for their future.

Our addiction professionals specialize in a variety of medical and behavioral treatments for opioid use disorder. They will develop a personalized care plan tailored to your symptoms and recovery goals.

BENEFITS OF VISITING A FENTANYL DRUG REHAB TREATMENT CENTER

A fentanyl drug addiction rehab center gives you support as you go through recovery. Your treatment team will help you achieve goals, including:

• Managing the physical and emotional symptoms of addiction
• Rebuilding relationships with friends, family and loved ones
• Returning to a stable work, school or home life

Recovery support from a drug addiction clinic empowers you to create the life you choose. You get the opportunity to take back your old life or build a new one.

RISKS OF USING FENTANYL AND OTHER OPIOIDS

Treatment for opioid addiction lets you avoid the risks associated with using them. While most people addicted to fentanyl use it to experience an intense euphoria or sense of relaxation similar to a heroin high, the drug is associated with a whole host of adverse consequences. Fentanyl can cause a range of side effects, such as:

• Digestive issues, like constipation, nausea or vomiting
• Slowed breathing and heart rate
• Headaches
• Itching
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Sweating and flushing
• Weakness
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Muscle stiffness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Seizures

Fentanyl slows down the central nervous system and can result in stopped breathing and unconsciousness during an overdose. Its potency gives users a higher risk of overdose than with other opioids. Mixing fentanyl with illicit drugs like heroin or cocaine can amplify the drug’s lethal side effects.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN ADDICTION TO OPIOIDS

It can become difficult to tell if you have an addiction, even if it seems obvious to others. You may have an addiction to fentanyl if you show these signs:

• Having uncontrollable urges to use fentanyl and other opioids
• Spending large amounts of time and money on getting and using fentanyl
• Feeling unable to stop using fentanyl
• Developing risky behaviors to get or use fentanyl

You can also visit Gateway or another clinic for a screening to see if you could have an addiction to opioids.

GATEWAY — YOUR FENTANYL DRUG ADDICTION REHABILITATION CENTER IN ILLINOIS

At Gateway, you can count on our 50 years of experience helping patients in the Chicago area. We support patients during and after recovery so they can experience the benefits of recovery for life. To schedule an appointment at one of our locations, contact us online today.