Are you or someone you love considering fentanyl rehab? Your decision to go to a fentanyl treatment center could very well be the difference between life and death. And we’re not joking, either. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 136 people die every day from an opioid overdose, and fentanyl is often the primary culprit.
Not only can fentanyl rehab save your life, it can also help you break free from your opioid addiction. By partnering with a fentanyl addiction treatment center, you can directly address both the symptoms and underlying causes of your drug abuse. It may be challenging at times. But, once you know what to expect in rehab for fentanyl, you realize it’s well worth the time and effort.
Why is Fentanyl So Dangerous?
A synthetic opioid with a legitimate medical use, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine. When it’s produced and sold illegally, fentanyl is mixed with other illicit drugs or sold as a counterfeit pill with a potentially lethal dose. This is sadly unbeknownst to the addicted user. And unfortunately, only two milligrams of fentanyl are enough to kill someone—and one kilogram is enough to kill 500,000 people, shares the DEA. So, the next illicit opioid you take (especially if you know it’s a fentanyl pill) could be a death sentence.
Fentanyl Rehab: Addiction Warning Signs
As you can tell, if you’re addicted to fentanyl, entering into a fentanyl treatment center is a critically serious issue. But how can you determine if you have a fentanyl addiction? Common addiction symptoms that indicate it’s time to explore your fentanyl rehab options can include:
- Continued use of fentanyl after your medication ends
- Struggling with strong cravings for fentanyl
- Spending substantial amount of time obtaining or using fentanyl
- Obtaining fentanyl illegally
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms once you take a break from fentanyl use
- Using fentanyl despite its negative consequences
- Losing interest in your favorite activities or hobbies
- Neglecting personal or work responsibilities
- Social withdrawal
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Slurred speech
As in the case with other opioids, fentanyl helps to reduce pain while simultaneously causing feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Inside your brain, the drug triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical associated with pleasure. As you continue to use fentanyl over time, you simultaneously build up a tolerance for the drug and crave more of it, thanks to your brain’s chemical dependence on the dopamine it provides.
Because of the chemical dependence behind the scenes, a fentanyl addiction becomes more than just about behavior modification. And even if you try to quit, unpleasant fentanyl withdrawal symptoms like nausea, muscle aches, and insomnia can hinder your attempts to stop before you ever really gain any traction. So if you truly want to overcome your addiction, you need help from a fentanyl rehab center.
Starting Rehab at a Fentanyl Detox Center
If you decide to pursue rehab for fentanyl, the first step is safely getting the drug out of your system under medical supervision. This process is called detox and takes place at a fentanyl detox center, either onsite at the fentanyl treatment center or perhaps at a partner location.
Because your body has become dependent on fentanyl, it needs to physically adjust to the drug’s departure, leading to the withdrawal symptoms we mentioned above. However, a fentanyl detox center will provide round-the-clock medical care to make your detox process as seamless as possible. And because you’re supervised, this prevents you from relapsing—which can be deadly in its own right—allowing you to stay the course.
Residential Fentanyl Rehab: Treating the Root Causes of Addiction
With fentanyl safely out of your system, the next step is to directly address your addiction itself. Enrolling in a residential fentanyl addiction treatment program gives you the space and comprehensive care you need to treat the root causes of your addiction, not just your symptoms. By staying at a treatment facility, you’re in an environment that can keep you accountable and free from temptations or distractions. In other words, you’re totally able to focus on getting sober.
As addictions are often rooted in trauma, residential fentanyl rehab may utilize trauma-informed care to uncover the difficulties associated with your past that are pulling the strings of your addiction. Through evidence-based treatment modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy, you can heal mentally and emotionally from your addiction. And with hands-on experiential therapies like yoga or art, you can be empowered to find better coping skills to keep you healthy moving forward.
Is Fentanyl Controlling You? Take Back Your Life at Integrative Life Center
Don’t leave your life to chance by continuing down the destructive path of fentanyl addiction. With the right fentanyl rehab treatment, you can break free from your substance use disorder and achieve long-term sobriety.
At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, TN, our comprehensive fentanyl addiction treatment program utilizes both a traditional and holistic approach to healing. With residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and aftercare programs, we partner with you every step of the way on your recovery journey. If you’re ready to get started in reclaiming your life, call our team now.
