Deaths from drug overdose rose by 30% in 2020, and experts point to fentanyl as the primary reason for the spike. Like other prescription drugs classified as opioids, fentanyl relieves pain. However, abuse or misuse of fentanyl can have life-threatening effects. Awareness of the dangers of fentanyl addiction is on the rise, but this drug is nothing new. It has been used illegally as a recreational substance since the 1970s. The increase in opioid addiction seems to have given fentanyl a deadly new wave of attention.
If you or someone you know is struggling with fentanyl addiction, call Pacific Bay Recovery at (619) 350-8220 for San Diego fentanyl rehabilitation.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid manufactured both legally and illegally. Like most opioids, it is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the United States Food and Drug Administration because of its high potential for addiction and abuse.
Fentanyl is used as a prescription medication to treat severe pain, and it is misused for the intense feelings of euphoria it creates. Fentanyl is sold as brand-name medications known as Actiq, Sublimaze, and Duragesic. When used correctly, this drug provides effective relief from severe pain. Some of the conditions fentanyl can treat are severe chronic pain, cancer pain, and post-surgical pain.
Fentanyl is a sedative. It causes relaxation and drowsiness by slowing down brain activity. The effects are similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent.
In prescription form, fentanyl is often taken as an injection administered by a doctor. It may also be used as a patch placed on the skin or given in lozenge form. Illegal fentanyl is typically sold as a powder or made into pills intentionally made to look like other prescription opioids.
As with all opioids, people can quickly build a tolerance to the drug, meaning the user needs larger and more frequent doses to get the wanted effects. The higher a user’s tolerance, the more dependent their body becomes on fentanyl and the higher the risk for overdose.
If you’re concerned about fentanyl dependency, we offer education, detox, and recovery programs explicitly designed for opioid abuse.
Call Pacific Bay Recovery now at (619) 350-8220 to learn more about our fentanyl rehab clinic in San Diego.
All opioid drugs work by binding to the opioid receptors in the brain. Opioid receptors are areas that control emotions and regulate natural pain management. When opioid drugs are ingested repeatedly, the brain eventually adapts to the drug, essentially letting the substance take over the job.
When the brain’s receptors get diminished, you become dependent on outside substances to manage pain and emotions. People addicted to fentanyl and other opioids have a hard time feeling any type of pleasure or pain relief without the drug.
The number-one risk of fentanyl is death by overdose. Because users can quickly build a tolerance, the chances of overdose increase with time. An individual may accidentally take a dose so large that it causes the brain to slow down significantly to the point of failure. The best way to prevent fentanyl overdose is to seek help from a San Diego fentanyl rehab right away.
If you witness any of the following signs in a person you know is using fentanyl or other opioids, call 911 immediately:
- Shallow or stopped breathing
- Confusion
- Pupils constrict
- Extreme sleepiness
- Loss of consciousness
It is possible to survive a fentanyl overdose if quick action is taken. First responders can administer a medication known as naloxone that quickly reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Reduce your risk of fentanyl overdose with a medically supervised San Diego fentanyl detox program.
You can overcome fentanyl dependence with the right support. Call Pacific Bay Recovery at (619) 350-8220 for fentanyl rehab in San Diego.
There are several serious side effects of fentanyl that can put your health at risk.
Brain Damage
Chronic fentanyl use may cause the white matter 9the nerve fibers of the nervous system) in your brain to break down. Loss of white matter can lead to long-term behavioral issues. Your ability to experience or respond to emotions may be altered along with your ability to process and handle stress. Damage to white matter can also affect your brain’s decision-making process.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome can occur when you introduce a new drug or higher levels of a drug to your system. Serotonin is naturally produced in the body to help with brain and nerve function. Too much serotonin can cause a range of mild to severe symptoms, including death.
Some of the more severe signs of serotonin syndrome include:
- High fever
- Irregular heartbeat
- Seizure
- Unconsciousness
Call emergency services if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms after taking fentanyl.
More Risks Associated with Fentanyl
Other potentially fatal health risks related to fentanyl use include the following:
- Seizure
- Coma
- Head injury and other accidents due to loss of coordination
- HIV and Hepatitis C
- Sleep apnea
The most common health risks experienced by people who take fentanyl include:
- Changes in vision
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Chest pain
- Shaking
- Insomnia
- Stomach pain
- Strange dreams or nightmares.
Confusion, fainting, and trouble swallowing are rarer but serious side effects.
Pacific Bay Recovery offers a fentanyl rehab clinic in San Diego for anyone whose life has been taken over by fentanyl addiction. The statistics for fentanyl overdose deaths continue to rise.
Don’t put your life or your long-term health at risk. Call us today at (619) 350-8220.
Detoxing from fentanyl can be a harrowing experience. That is why we don’t recommend that individuals addicted to fentanyl or any other opioid quit “cold turkey.” Medical detox programs like the one at Pacific Bay Recovery’s San Diego fentanyl detox clinic keep patients safe and comfortable during the withdrawal process.
Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms
Detoxing or withdrawal is the process your body goes through after you stop taking a substance. Because an addicted person’s body has become physically dependent on that substance, they can experience various symptoms when they stop using it. The symptoms of fentanyl detox can be mild or severe, depending on how heavy or long-term the addiction has been.
Symptoms may include the following:
- Flu-like symptoms, body aches
- Feeling tired, run-down
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Stomach cramps
- Pain in joints
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Dehydration
- Aspiration
- Depression
- Urgent cravings
Once the body is no longer dependent on the drug, it becomes more sensitive to the substance, and a severe reaction is more likely. There is also an increased risk of overdose during and after the detox process.
Many people addicted to fentanyl or other opioids avoid recovery because they are concerned about going through detox. Pacific Bay Recovery offers medically supervised fentanyl detox in San Diego that helps patients stay safe and comfortable. Our medical detox program provides 24-hour supervision from a medical team in a rehab setting.
PBR’s board-certified physicians, registered nurses, and qualified healthcare team members develop a customized, comprehensive treatment program for each client that comes to our center. By treating each patient as an individual, we can offer the best strategies for detoxing and overcoming the addiction to fentanyl or other opioids.
Withdrawal can be frightening, and without proper management, some symptoms can even be life-threatening. Medical detox Pacific Bay Recovery helps patients get through detox as quickly and comfortably as possible using pharmacotherapies, nutritional therapy, and mental wellness support. A more positive detox experience helps pave the way for a more positive long-term recovery from fentanyl addiction.
It doesn’t matter whether you are addicted to fentanyl that is legally prescribed or illegally purchased. Drug addiction doesn’t discriminate. The impact on your career, your family life, and your health is all the same. But there is hope.
Our fentanyl rehab center in San Diego, CA, is helping people change their lives for the better every day. Through medical detox, evidence-based recovery therapies, and appropriate after-care programs, you can free yourself from opioid addiction and live life fully again.
Call our fentanyl detox clinic in San Diego, CA today at (619) 350-8220 for more information.
