Do you think that you could be addicted to Fentanyl or do you know someone who is? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re at the right place.
Below you will be able to find out what Fentanyl is, what the signs and symptoms of an addiction to it are and what can be done to help treat it and start the recovery process.
What is Fentanyl Addiction?
Fentanyl is a potent and powerful artificial, painkilling opiate drug which is similar to morphine but just more intense.
Fentanyl is commonly used by medical professionals in the treatment of severe pain after surgery and is also used to assist those addicted to opiate drugs.
Fentanyl has various names, medically known as Actiq, Duragesic and Sublimaze, while it is street labeled as apache, china girl or china white.
The drug can only be obtained through a prescription and may come in the form of skin patches, tablets, shots and lozenges.
Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction
Individuals addicted to Fentanyl may show signs and symptoms that may vary from drowsiness, fatigue, lack of energy and strength, feeling pleasure, impaired breathing and urinating and experiencing skin irritations.
Because the drug is so potent, it is easy for those who abuse it to become more tolerant towards it, meaning more and more of the drug will need to be taken to experience feelings that were once achieved through low dosages.
It is this higher tolerance that makes the possibility of an overdose occurring much higher. The signs of an overdose of Fentanyl are extremely slow breathing, severe drowsiness, cold and sweaty skin, low blood pressure and decreased heart rate. More severely, breathing may stop completely and could eventually lead to death.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
An addiction to Fentanyl is extremely dangerous; therefore if you suspect or know that you or someone is suffering from one, then seek professional medical help urgently.
The best way to treat it is by residing at a rehabilitation centre, where a medically supervised detoxification may be done to remove any craving or withdrawal symptoms that might be experienced due to the drug not being available.
The length of stay is entirely dependent on the nature and severity of the addiction and the individual will go through various counselling and therapy sessions which will help teach them about their addiction and what can be done to avoid using it in the future.
Once the stay in rehab has been completed, it is advisable for recovering addicts to attend secondary care, which may come in the form of outpatient treatment or a residential stay in a Halfway House. This will serve as a continuation of what was taught at the clinic in greater detail.
Tertiary care is also available for those looking to continue treatment and is highly effective in ensuring that the individual remains sober and lives a drug-free lifestyle.
For more information on how to get yourself or a loved one into treatment, call us now and our accredited Addictions Counsellor will gladly assist you.