The complexity of substance abuse has been a long-standing issue across history and cultural boundaries. Moreover, the abuse of opiates is not a new development in the world of substance use disorder and overdose death. As noted in Pathways of Addiction: Opportunities in Drug Abuse Research, around World War I, substance abuse in the United States was extensive as a combination of morphine, heroin, opium, and cocaine sent waves of fear throughout the country. The prevalence of opioid drugs in the early 20th century can be traced to a variety of factors, including availability and discrimination-based stigma.
According to “A Social History of America’s Most Popular Drugs” from PBS, opiates were popular throughout the 19th century as over-the-counter medication and prescription medication to address “female problems”. Some of the “female problems” doctors prescribed opioids for included physical and mental fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the public associated drugs like opioids with minority communities, such as opium with Chinese immigrants and cocaine with African-Americans. Thus, the history of opioids and abused drugs is tied to a lack of public health awareness and discriminatory beliefs.
Yet, the prevalence of substance abuse continues to impede the well-being of individuals, families, and entire communities. The risk of overdose and overdose deaths from opioid and synthetic opioid drugs has grown significantly in recent years. Fentanyl use, in particular, has increased the risk of overdose deaths. The synthetic opioid versions of fentanyl have become more accessible and more dangerous. Ease of access to illicit synthetic opioids can be connected to prescription opioids facing more regulations. An increased risk of fentanyl overdose deaths can be tied to manufacturers adding fentanyl to drugs like heroin to increase the potency of their products.
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What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for treating severe pain, typically prescribed to advanced cancer patients. As an opioid, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Like other addictive prescription drugs that are legitimately prescribed, fentanyl can easily become abused.
Additionally, fentanyl use can be associated with cutting, which occurs when fentanyl is mixed with drugs like heroin and cocaine. Typically, cutting fentanyl with heroin and cocaine occurs without the user’s knowledge. Lack of awareness of what is in illicit drugs makes those substances more volatile and increases the risk of a fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is hazardous, and in the opioid overdose epidemic, fentanyl overdose has been responsible for over half of the deaths.
A Country in Crisis
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the primary driver of overdose deaths. Listed below are some of the percentages that highlight the prevalence of overdose deaths in the past year alone:
- There was a 38% rise in overdose deaths involving opioids
- Overdose deaths involving fentanyl rose 56%
Short and Long-Term Effects of Fentanyl Use and Addiction
The short and long-term effects are one of the primary reasons to pursue treatment and fentanyl detox in Los Angeles. Substance abuse, coupled with cravings, mental health issues, and other healthcare challenges, can contribute to short and long-term mental and physical health issues like severe pain. Some of the short-term and long-term effects of fentanyl use include:
- Short-term effects of fentanyl use
- Euphoria
- Slurred speech
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in blood pressure
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Cognitive impairments
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory issues
- Poor decision-making
- Going in and out of consciousness
- Slowed breathing
- Small constricted pupils, also known as pinpoint pupils
- Feeling itchy or a warm/hot sensation on the skin
- Long-term effects
- Substance use disorder
- Impaired impulse control
- Changes in neurochemistry
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Damage to internal organs
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Cardiovascular issues
- Increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure
- Greater fluctuations in blood pressure
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Increases risk for endocarditis
- Life-threatening infection of the heart’s inner lining
- Breathing problems
- Constipation
- Poor nutrition
- Weight loss
- Weakened immune system
- More susceptible to infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and respiratory illnesses
- In some cases, the increase or worsening of severe pain
- Endocrine disruptions or opioid-induced hypogonadism based on sex
- A disruption to hormonal balance that typically suppresses the production of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Reduces libido
- Increases infertility
- Contributes to fatigue
- Increases in mood disturbances
- Males may experience sex related problems like erectile dysfunction
- Females may experience irregular menstrual cycles or early menopause
- A disruption to hormonal balance that typically suppresses the production of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Pregnancy-related effects
- Miscarriage
- Low birth weight
- Premature delivery
- High infant mortality
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The Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Use
An important step in seeking fentanyl addiction treatment is recognizing the signs and symptoms of fentanyl use. Some of the signs and symptoms of fentanyl use can include:
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Rapid heartbeat
- Slowed heart rate
- Pounding in the ears
- Intracranial hypertension
- Rise in blood pressure in the brain
- Low blood pressure
- Chest tightness or rigidity of the chest muscles, known as wooden chest syndrome
- Respiratory depression and respiratory arrest
- Muscle rigidity and spasms
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Contracted or pinpoint pupils
- Mood changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Changes in vision
- Poor balance
- Difficulty urinating
- Hallucinations
- Abnormal thoughts
- Unusual dreams
- Sleep issues
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Swelling of the hands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- Uncontrollable shaking
- A sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest
- Wearing long-sleeve shirts or other clothing that covers the arms to hide injection marks
- Other behavioral health signs and symptoms
- Self-isolation from loved ones
- Change in friends, hobbies, and/or activities
- Decreased productivity and performance at work or school
- Moodiness, irritability, nervousness, and or giddiness
- Engaging in risky behaviors
Fentanyl Detox for Withdrawal Symptoms
Many people feel embarrassed, ashamed, and or fearful of withdrawal symptoms in detoxification and drug rehab. Fear and shame often drive people to avoid seeking detox or an addiction treatment program. However, seeking substance abuse treatment in a rehab center can be the difference between lasting recovery and a life-threatening opioid overdose or overdose deaths. Furthermore, fear and shame can also falsely lead you or your loved one to believe you should go through detox alone. Detox from any abused substance is an important step in your long-term recovery journey.
Yet, detoxification from natural opioid and synthetic opioid drugs needs specialized medical supervision in fentanyl detox to safely manage your withdrawal symptoms. It is never wise to try to engage in fentanyl detox by yourself; it is always smarter and safer to get help with medical supervision from healthcare professionals at a fentanyl addiction treatment facility. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are one of the reasons why many people pursue fentanyl rehab in an addiction treatment center. The risk of overdose deaths is greatly increased by fentanyl use and withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms found in fentanyl detox can include extreme dehydration, seizures, and stroke. Severe withdrawal symptoms like seizures and stroke can lead to life-threatening conditions and even death. Thus, getting professional help at a fentanyl rehab like our fentanyl detox in Los Angeles is essential for healing and long-term recovery. When you get fentanyl addiction treatment at a fentanyl rehab treatment center like Profound Treatment, you can access comprehensive medical detox programs, a personalized treatment plan, behavioral health therapy sessions, coping skills, and support groups in aftercare. With fentanyl addiction treatment in Los Angeles, we offer comprehensive and holistic levels of care to meet each client where they are on their journey to lasting recovery.
One of the important aspects of fentanyl detox programs at Profound Treatment is access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in medical detox. Medical detox will be an essential aspect of the detox, addiction treatment, and recovery process. With medication-assisted treatment in our fentanyl detox programs, you will have professional support with around-the-clock medical supervision and access to medications that help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Some of the prescribed medications used in medical detox include medications such as suboxone. Suboxone is a medication that contains buprenorphine, which is used in drug rehab for fentanyl detox to help your body handle withdrawal symptoms safely.
Listed below are some of the ways suboxone and other prescribed medications in medication-assisted treatment can potentially help you or a loved one manage withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl use:
- Buprenorphine
- Often helps shorten the length of time in a medical detox program
- Can be used for long-term maintenance of cravings and supports relapse prevention
- Suboxone
- Contains buprenorphine and naloxone to help manage and prevent the dependence and misuse of opioid drugs like fentanyl
- Methadone
- Can help relieve withdrawal symptoms and support the detox process
- Often used in long-term maintenance to manage opioid dependence and reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms
- Clonidine
- Typically used to help manage mental health issues and physical health issues related to withdrawal symptoms
- Helps reduce feelings of anxiety and agitation from withdrawal symptoms
- Supports reduction in muscle aches, sweating, runny nose, and cramping brought on by opioid withdrawal symptoms
- Helps reduce drug cravings
- Typically used to help manage mental health issues and physical health issues related to withdrawal symptoms
- Naltrexone
- Supports relapse prevention
Withdrawal symptoms from opioids can be particularly unpleasant and even life-threatening, depending on the severity of your addiction. Therefore, we recommend our medical detox program for medical supervision and support for a smooth transition to other levels of care on your long-term recovery journey. Looking at some of the withdrawal symptoms of opioid drugs can further highlight the value of medication-assisted treatment in a fentanyl detox program in Los Angeles:
- Sweating
- Chills
- Goosebumps
- Muscle spasms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Stomach pain/abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Exhaustion
- Yawning
- Hypertension
- Excessive tears
- Runny nose
- Dilated pupils
Compassionate Care for Lasting Recovery
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Fentanyl Addiction Treatment at Profound Treatment
Given the high potency of fentanyl and the risk of overdose death, it is imperative to get immediate help for you or a loved one who is engaging in fentanyl use. Due to the dangers of withdrawal symptoms, we recommend Profound’s medical detox program to help address your substance abuse and help you find the right level of care for lasting recovery. Following medical detox, our comprehensive and inclusive approach to rehab programs helps clients make a smooth transition into inpatient rehab or a residential treatment program to receive the best personalized treatment plan for clients facing challenges with fentanyl use or other opioid drugs.
In addition to support in finding the right levels of care for addiction treatment, our holistic commitment to addressing the needs of the mind, body, and spirit also helps us provide a continuum of care across every level of care. Whether you need support addressing substance abuse, dual diagnosis for co-occurring mental health disorders, or aftercare, there is a treatment program for you. Some of the other treatment program services born out of treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis, include a continuum for:
- Individual therapy sessions
- Group therapy sessions
- Family therapy sessions
- Evidence-based therapies
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Outpatient treatment
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Residential treatment program
- Sober living home
No matter where you are on your recovery journey, we are here to guide, encourage, and support you. At Profound Treatment, we offer treatment programs for every step of the recovery process, and our clinicians will work with you to map out a unique, personalized treatment plan best suited to your needs.
Cost and Insurance Coverage for Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles
At Profound Treatment, we pride ourselves on being the fentanyl detox and addiction treatment rehab in Los Angeles that clients from Los Angeles and other areas can count on. We accept the majority of major insurance carriers, and your benefits can either partially or fully cover your treatment program. You can reach out to our experienced admissions team to find out what services are available to you. The complexities of insurance coverage should not be a barrier to getting the care you need and deserve. Thus, at Profound Treatment, we are dedicated to guiding you every step of the way to find the level of care to best support you.
Why Choose Profound Treatment for Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
At Profound, we are set apart from other treatment centers by our experienced staff, comfortable facilities, safe and nurturing environment, and evidence-based treatment methods. You can count on us to help you navigate and grow at every step in the recovery process. We know you are unique, and your treatment should be too. Together, we can build a treatment plan that not only treats your diagnosis but also allows you to heal as a whole person in mind, body, and spirit.
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Get Started With Fentanyl Detox in Los Angeles Today
Are you ready to make a profound change in your life? If you are ready to start your path to a drug-free life, contact Profound Treatment in Los Angeles today. We are ready to help you make a full recovery and lead the fulfilling life you deserve in long-term recovery.
Increases in ease of access to fentanyl have contributed to the continuing opioid crisis that has stolen countless lives and devastated families and communities all over the United States. Despite the prevalence of opioid use disorder and fentanyl-related overdoses, long-term recovery is possible with access to comprehensive, evidence-based therapies and holistic modalities like medication-assisted treatment in detox. Profound Treatment is dedicated to providing fentanyl addiction treatment in Los Angeles to meet each client where they are on their recovery journey. If you are ready to truly make a profound change to heal in mind, body, and spirit, call us at (310) 340-2609 today.