Fentanyl Treatment

Fentanyl is deadly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, fentanyl is one of the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. In 2017 alone, fentanyl was involved in 59% of opioid-related deaths.

If you have a fentanyl addiction, you are in grave danger. While your addiction is not your fault, our team at October Road wants to help make sure you do not become another statistic.

Similar to morphine, but 50 to 100 times more potent, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. In addition to its legal versions, Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®, fentanyl is produced and distributed illegally. Legal fentanyl is given in shots, patches, and lozenges, but illegal fentanyl can be found as a powder, on blotter paper, in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or in pills that look like other prescription opioids.

Whether you use prescription fentanyl or illegal sources, October Road can help. Learn more about our opioid addiction treatment programs or visit us at our conveniently located clinic in Asheville.

Because it is so strong, small amounts of fentanyl can produce feelings of pleasure and euphoria known as a high. As a result, doses of fentanyl are added to many other illegal drugs for a cheaper high. Many times, people do not realize they are taking fentanyl and do not know how it affects their bodies, making an overdose more likely. Further, illegally made fentanyl offers no dosage information, so someone could accidentally take a much larger amount of fentanyl than intended.

Even small amounts of the drug can slow or stop your breathing and/or lead to death. Other effects of fentanyl include:

• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Sedation
• Unconsciousness

Like other opioids, fentanyl is also extremely addictive. Even people who only use prescription fentanyl can become addicted within a few days.

If you’ve developed a fentanyl addiction, we can help. Learn more about our admissions process here.

When you use fentanyl, the substance binds to the areas of your brain that control pain and emotions (your opioid receptors). This creates feelings of relaxation and extreme happiness. After multiple doses of fentanyl, your brain will adapt to the drug, which may make it harder for you to receive pleasure from other sources. When drug use takes over your life in this way, you may have an addiction.

Signs of fentanyl addiction include:

• Needing more and more fentanyl to achieve a high (tolerance)
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking fentanyl
• Spending excessive time and money seeking, using, and recovering from fentanyl
• Abandoning relationships, work, hobbies, and other activities so you can use fentanyl
• Continuing to use fentanyl despite negative consequences
• Being unable to quit or cut back on your fentanyl use
• Overdoses and risky behavior while using

All too often, people wait until fentanyl nearly kills them to seek help. Don’t wait for your rock bottom; choose October Road today.

Many people have extreme difficulty quitting fentanyl because of severe withdrawal symptoms. If you stop using fentanyl, you might experience muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes, goosebumps, uncontrollable leg movements, and/or severe cravings. While these symptoms are enough to send most people back to the drug, getting professional help can get you through the worst of them.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medications to help with the withdrawal process, and a combination of medication and behavioral therapy can help you manage your addiction.

At October Road, we believe in medication assisted treatment and have special programs for individuals struggling with opioid addictions.

Our accredited behavioral health and substance use treatment center uses proven, evidence-based treatments to help your recover from fentanyl addiction.