Opiates include both prescription medications, like fentanyl, and illicit drugs, like heroin. Fentanyl is more powerful than morphine and heroin, and is physically addictive. When you become addicted, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms may require medical intervention, making it dangerous to stop using without help from a fentanyl addiction treatment center.
Opiates are among the most commonly abused psychoactive substances in the United States. Growing rates of opiate abuse have led to a public health emergency declaration in 2017 from President Trump. The opiate epidemic has overwhelmingly impacted young Americans, with fatal opiate overdoses more than quadrupling among 18 to 25-year-old’s in the past decade. Drug overdoses are among the leading causes of death among 12 to 35-year-old’s, and are the number one cause of accidental death in the country.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a lab-created synthetic opiate that is made from opium, which is a naturally growing plant native to the Middle East. It was developed in 1960 and was approved by the FDA for severe pain treatment in 1968. Fentanyl comes in several forms, including:
- Patches
- Lolli-pops
- Nasal sprays
- Liquid
- Sublingual
- Powder
Most forms of fentanyl are time-released. Some users will open fentanyl patches and smoke the contents, which can lead to a fatal overdose. Black market fentanyl can come in a powder form and is sometimes added to street heroin. When heroin is laced with fentanyl, the risk of overdosing is significant.
Fentanyl causes your brain to release a rush of dopamine, which, during addiction, results in changes to your brain’s pleasure and reward center and creates major neurotransmitter imbalances. You can begin to experience intensified cravings within hours of your last use, as your body and brain crave pleasurable neurotransmitters. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can last for several days and cause potential complications, such as seizures.
Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
Signs of fentanyl withdrawal can begin within 24 hours of your last use. The onset depends on how much fentanyl you use, how long you have been using and the typical route of administration you use. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can cause restless legs and severe insomnia. Fatigue and exhaustion can lower your pain tolerance, making aches, pains and cramps especially troublesome. Nausea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, which may require medical attention. In rare cases, fentanyl withdrawal can cause seizures.
A fentanyl addiction treatment center can provide you with medications and treatment to alleviate and reduce your fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. Medications can reduce anxiety, promote sleep and decrease your discomfort. Once you complete detox, you can continue treatment at an inpatient or outpatient program. Many times, inpatient centers offer opioid detox center in addition to residential programs, making your transition from withdrawal to treatment easier.
Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction
Fentanyl addiction has fatal consequences. Overdoses are becoming more common, making treatment even more important. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms may make recovery seem impossible, but rehabs can help you overcome the hardest part of recovery, which is detox. Contact us today at 866.782.0247 to learn more about how our programs can help you achieve life-long recovery.
