A drug that has captured more and more headlines lately, fentanyl is a type of narcotic opioid. It’s most often used to relieve severe pain for people following intensive surgery or for people who suffer from chronic pain. Fentanyl is a highly addictive drug that easily leads to dependence or addiction when misused. Rarely do people begin taking fentanyl with any intent to misuse. But the drug’s sheer power makes taking more of it a constant temptation. People who begin to abuse fentanyl or become addicted typically need a fentanyl addiction treatment program to help them turn things around.
Contact 866.957.7885 to learn more about fentanyl addiction treatment offered by San Antonio Recovery Center.
What is Fentanyl and How is it Used?
Understanding a fentanyl addiction treatment program begins with knowledge of fentanyl itself. For starters, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It was first developed in the 1960s. Most people come in contact with it as a prescription for long-term pain. The long-term prescription use of fentanyl is one key factor in why the potential for addiction is so high. Using such a powerful drug over a long period of time is likely to create a physical dependence on the drug.
In contrast to many other prescriptions, fentanyl comes in a variety of forms. It is commonly dispensed as patches you wear on the skin, dissolving tablets taken orally, nasal spray, lozenges, an injectable liquid, and dissolvable film strips. Illegal varieties of fentanyl often come in powder form and are often cut with other drugs to make the supply of fentanyl stretch farther. Using illicit forms of fentanyl often dramatically increases the risk for overdose when users combine it with other substances.
How Fentanyl Addiction Treatment Programs Work
The first stage in a fentanyl addiction treatment program is detox. Detox is necessary for eliminating the presence of fentanyl in the body and laying the groundwork for treatment. The process can be uncomfortable. For starters, fentanyl withdrawal often involves a number of symptoms that include:
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
Additionally, the underlying problems fentanyl may have been covering are liable to return. Fentanyl use often begins for legitimate reasons like long-term pain management. During treatment in a fentanyl addiction rehab program, the pain managed by fentanyl can return. Fentanyl addiction treatment centers prioritize managing any underlying issues that rise up during and after withdrawal. Learning to cope with pain or mental health issues outside of abusing fentanyl is paramount to a successful recovery.
Many people enter treatment hoping for or expecting a quick fix. But the reality is that comprehensively addressing a fentanyl addiction will probably take at least a year of dedicated treatment. The backbone of fentanyl addiction rehab centers is therapy. Sessions occur either individually or in a group setting. Perhaps the most common therapy used to treat fentanyl addiction is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This approach targets the root causes of addiction. It addresses the thought and behavior patterns that led to and keep someone stuck in an addiction.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Texas
San Antonio Recovery Center offers fentanyl addiction treatment in Texas. We offer a wide range of addiction treatment services within the fentanyl addiction treatment program. Each of our patients can expect holistic resources that take care of the mind, body, and soul during recovery.
In the case of the fentanyl addiction rehab program, many people benefit from residential treatment at our San Antonio location. During a residential stay, people will experience therapy on-site; be able to access leading-edge medical services; and engage in nutritional counseling, wellness, and aftercare planning. In fact, a residential or inpatient stay is the best way to manage withdrawal.
Learn more about San Antonio Recovery’s fentanyl addiction treatment center when you call 866.957.7885.
