Freedom from fentanyl drug addiction is possible
Drug addiction, especially fentanyl abuse has been in the news a lot lately. According to a recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention report, states that almost 70,000 people died of overdoses involving the powerful drug, fentanyl. The synthetic opioid painkiller is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Healthcare providers often administer it to patients recovering from surgery or other painful health conditions, such as cancer or AIDS.
Why fentanyl has such a high abuse potential
Fentanyl, an opioid agonist, works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. It’s by this pathway that it targets the brain’s pleasure center. Taking large doses of fentanyl will cause intense euphoria, making the person feel happy, even giddy. This effect is why the drug has such a high potential for abuse.
The drug can be administered via injection (the method most often used in hospitals), skin patch, or an oral lozenge. Most people who abuse fentanyl get it illegally on the street. Illegal fentanyl is significantly more dangerous than pharmaceutical-grade drugs because it’s often cut with ingredients like rat poison (arsenic), caustic drain cleaner, or battery acid.
Since the drug is so powerful, people can become addicted even after using it only one or two times. Many start taking the drug to help with acute or chronic pain but quickly find they’ve developed an addiction to it.
Is withdrawal from fentanyl dangerous?
Some physical withdrawal symptoms are painful and can be dangerous. Some of the symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Generalized body aches and pains
- Profuse sweating and episodes of bodily chills
- Bouts of intense nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Rapid heartbeat
- Fatigue and weakness
Due to potentially fatal symptoms, it’s crucial for people with drug addiction, especially fentanyl, to undergo detoxification under medical supervision. This requires an outpatient setting.
But once a person completes detox and the physical withdrawal symptoms recede, they typically experience powerful psychological and behavioral withdrawal symptoms. An outpatient drug addiction rehab center, such as Edge Treatment, can help people understand these psychological and behavioral symptoms. Through individual and group therapy, as well as other holistic activities, people can learn how to spot and deal with triggers.
The experienced, compassionate professionals at Edge Treatment have the therapies and understand that they don’t need to ‘fix’ their patients. Rather, patients must be treated, supported, and prepared to achieve lasting recovery.
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