Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl has become one of the most dangerous, addictive drugs in the country. Fentanyl addiction, overdose, and withdrawal affect thousands of Americans every year. Whether you are using fentanyl yourself or are worried about a loved one, learning to identify fentanyl addiction signs and how fentanyl addiction can be treated are crucial to getting help.

At Yellowstone Recovery, we offer personalized treatment programs in a warm, caring setting to help you overcome your addiction to fentanyl and begin your journey toward a sober, rewarding, and happy life.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you.

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine. As a prescription medication, fentanyl is used in hospitals to control pain after major surgeries or invasive medical procedures.

Other names for prescription fentanyl include:

• Sublimaze
• Duragesic
• Actiq

However, due to its addictive nature, fentanyl is also manufactured in informal drug labs and sold on the street.

When fentanyl is produced illegally, it can also be known as:

• Tango and Cash
• Murder 8
• Jackpot
• Apache
• Friend
• Goodfellas
• Dance Fever

Effects of Fentanyl

As an opioid, fentanyl is a powerful painkiller. When it is abused, it can also produce powerful feelings of euphoria. At the same time, the drug is also known to cause a range of side effects like:

• Nausea
• Seizures
• Fainting
• Slowed breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Sedation
• Death

Due to its powerful effects, fentanyl is extremely dangerous and has caused thousands of overdose deaths among those who abuse it over the years. Getting professional help for fentanyl addiction or misuse is critical.

How Do People Use Fentanyl?

Prescription fentanyl typically comes as a transdermal gel patch, a lozenge, or intravenous injection. When used illegally, however, fentanyl can be injected, snorted, or taken orally.

Why Is Fentanyl Dangerous?

The danger of fentanyl lies in how easily it can cause an overdose. Fentanyl is incredibly powerful, and very few illegal forms of fentanyl are 100% pure. Often, street fentanyl is mixed with other drugs like cocaine or heroin. As a result, the amount of pure fentanyl in a certain amount of product can vary.

Someone may take the same amount of the product, but get a much higher dose of fentanyl than they’re used to, leading to an overdose.

Another danger lies in the addictive properties of fentanyl, and the lengths people who are addicted to it will go to acquire it, possibly buying illegal fentanyl from a drug dealer and unknowingly taking a slew of other drugs or overdosing in the process.

Why Do People Get Addicted to Fentanyl?

People typically start misusing fentanyl after misusing the prescription version of it after surgery or serious injury. Over time, it takes more and more fentanyl to get the same euphoric high, and living a normal life feels almost impossible without a steady supply of the drug. At this point, the person has become addicted to fentanyl and requires professional intervention to become sober.

Recognizing and Responding to a Fentanyl Overdose

If you are worried that someone close to you is using fentanyl, learning the signs of a fentanyl overdose and how to respond may help you save their life.

Signs of a fentanyl overdose include:

• Stupor
• Changes in pupil size, especially shrinking to pinpoint
• Breathing problems
• Clammy, cold skin
• Blue tinge on their hands and feet
• Coma

These symptoms are common across overdoses of a range of opioids, not just fentanyl. If someone exhibits these symptoms, seek emerg

ency medical help immediately.

Symptoms and Signs of Fentanyl Addiction and Abuse

The most common fentanyl addiction symptoms include:

• Sleepiness
• Shallow breathing
• Extreme happiness, energy levels, or euphoria
• Blurry vision
• Poor balance
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Unexplained itching and scratching

Beyond these physical symptoms, fentanyl addiction signs also include:

• Isolation or being too busy for friends and hobbies the person used to enjoy
• Always running out of money but not having anything to show for it
• Avoiding work responsibilities and social gatherings
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms whenever they spend a few hours off of the drug

The Risks of Fentanyl Withdrawal

Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are severe. The intensity of these symptoms often pushes people to use again, also increasing their risk of overdose. The most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Muscle pain
• Anxiety
• Repetitive yawning
• Runny nose
• Dilated pupils
• Nausea and vomiting
• Goosebumps on their skin
• Elevated heart rate
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• High blood pressure
• Sweating

How Fentanyl Withdrawal Is Treated

Most fentanyl withdrawal symptoms start subsiding after around 72 hours. However, during those 72 hours, the person going through withdrawal should be under careful medical supervision. A doctor can prescribe medication to ease some of the effects of withdrawal, while ensuring the person doesn’t relapse or overdose because of their intensity.

Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction at Yellowstone Recovery

Fentanyl addiction requires professional treatment in a calm, drug-free setting. Our fentanyl rehab program at Yellowstone Recovery focuses on providing participants with all the care and tools they need to get clean and stay clean for life.

Fentanyl Detox Treatment

The first step of our addiction treatment program for people with fentanyl use disorder is a medical detox. During this program, participants go through withdrawal and rid their bodies of all traces of the drug. Our skilled medical staff are always available to help ease withdrawal symptoms and respond to health concerns as they arise.

Residential Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction

Depending on how long you’ve been addicted to fentanyl, the next step in your recovery journey may be an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. In our inpatient rehab for fentanyl, participants live onsite at our treatment facilities under constant supervision from our experienced staff. They also attend daily therapy, counseling, and holistic treatment sessions to help them build resilience and stay sober once they leave.

Outpatient Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

If you have not used fentanyl for a long time, or you have already completed a residential treatment program, your next step will be outpatient treatment. During an outpatient program, you can live at home or in a sober living space provided there are no drugs or negative influences present.

Participants join therapy, counseling, and other treatment sessions on a regular basis while enjoying the opportunity to work, study, and re-integrate into their normal lives once again. Outpatient treatment also focuses on relapse prevention skills aimed to help you stay sober and happy about it for life.

If you’re ready to get started on the road to recovery from fentanyl addiction, call us today at (888) 418-4188.