Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Hanover, Pennsylvania
Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid drug used to treat chronic pain and acute pain after surgery. Because it’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, Fentanyl can be incredibly addictive, especially when abused, used recreationally, or not taken as directed. It has turbo-charged the opioid crisis with large quantities being smuggled from Mexico and China.
Prescription names for fentanyl include Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®. Street names include Apache, China Girl, Dance Fever, and others. Overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are continuing to rise in the U.S.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, in 2021, the number of opioid-related (mostly fentanyl) overdose deaths increased from 70,000 to 80,000—making up the lion's share of the country’s record 107,000 overdose deaths."
Like heroin and other prescription opioids, fentanyl fastens to opioid receptors in the brain. With persistent use the brain adjusts to the drug, which makes it more difficult for the brain to create its own neurotransmitters. Eventually, it turns out to be harder to feel pleasure without the fentanyl. This leads to a never-ending cycle of continuing increasing amounts of Fentanyl just to feel normal. Our Pennsylvania Fentanyl addiction programs include a full-continuum of treatment that begins with detox. Clients are detoxified with the latest addiction medicines and monitored 24/7 by our medical team. Once detox is complete, clients move onto our other programs where intensive addiction therapy takes place.
Signs of Fentanyl Addiction
It’s not always obvious when you or a loved one has become addicted to fentanyl, especially if you were prescribed the drug for pain. Signs can be physical and behavioral, and may include:
- Intense cravings
- Exhaustion
- Weight loss
- Restlessness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Poor personal hygiene
- Isolation
- Stealing and lying
- Money issues
Fentanyl Withdrawal and Side Effects
Stopping fentanyl use can produce difficult withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Muscle strain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cold perspiration
- Insomnia
- Restless legs
- Overwhelming cravings
Because fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can be severe, many people find it impossible to stop without medical help. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized use of several medications to help ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, including methadone (a full opioid agonist), Suboxone and Buprenorphine (both partial opioid agonist), Naltrexone, which prevents opioid receptors from receiving the drug.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Fentanyl
Medication Assisted Treatment is the doctor-supervised use of medication to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) like fentanyl addiction. In fact, the majority of research indicates that medication assisted treatment for fentanyl is shown to be the most successful approach, considerably surpassing traditional forms of addiction therapy that depend on talk therapy by itself.
While many treatment providers only prescribe medication, BriteLife Pennsylvania embraces doctor-dispensed medication as an important element of our Pennsylvania fentanyl addiction treatment program. This is a more effective and accountable method to the use of medication to treat opioids like fentanyl. If you or a loved one is battling Fentanyl addiction and wants to stop, then BriteLife is ready to help. Call us 24/7 at 866-470-1464.