In recent years, fentanyl has increasingly appeared in headlines. This potent opioid is many times more powerful than heroin and can easily lead to overdose. Knowing how to recognize fentanyl overdose symptoms and when to seek fentanyl addiction treatment in Mississippi can be life-saving knowledge.
At Woodland Recovery Center, we understand that substance use can make you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom. We offer a range of evidence-based programs and support to help you overcome substance use, including fentanyl. Give us a call today at 662.222.2989 to learn more about getting help with fentanyl use at Woodland Recovery Center.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl use has become more frequent, making it a leading cause of overdose. But what exactly is fentanyl? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Often 50 times stronger than heroin, overdosing on fentanyl is easy—and often unintentional.
Unlike other drugs, fentanyl has no taste or smell. This makes it impossible to detect if it’s been added to other substances or how potent a dose is. The CDC reports that around 150 people die each day from fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids.
A key reason fentanyl has been making the news is because of how it’s being used. Fentanyl is frequently mixed with other drugs to increase their effects. This means that even when a person doesn’t think they’re taking an opioid, they’re at risk of experiencing a fentanyl overdose.
Signs of a Fentanyl Overdose
It doesn’t matter whether you use substances or not—the ability to detect the signs of a fentanyl overdose can save someone’s life. A fentanyl overdose can occur regardless of whether a person has knowingly taken fentanyl.
Some of the most common signs of a fentanyl overdose include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Slow or stopped breathing
- Slow or stopped heartbeat
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Discolored skin, especially on the face
- Choking
- Inability to speak
- Pupils that look like pinpoints
If someone exhibits fentanyl overdose symptoms, they immediately need emergency medical attention. Never ignore the signs of a fentanyl overdose. An overdose without immediate medical attention can be fatal.
Getting Help with Fentanyl Use
There is no wrong time to seek help with fentanyl use. Fentanyl is highly addictive, and physical dependence quickly builds. This means that stopping fentanyl use is a difficult thing to achieve, but it is possible with the support of a quality addiction treatment center. Effectively overcoming fentanyl addiction begins with a medically supervised detox. Attempting to undergo fentanyl detox without medical supervision is dangerous and can be fatal.
Once detox is finished, rehab should involve residential treatment followed by outpatient treatment. Fentanyl addiction is typically treated using talk therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, in combination with medication. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) involves the use of medications that provide relief from the severe cravings that accompany fentanyl recovery, helping greatly improve treatment outcomes. Even after treatment is complete, successful long-term recovery from fentanyl takes continued work.
Building a recovery community, staying connected to a treatment’s aftercare program, and participating in addiction recovery groups are all recommended ways of ensuring that the work done in a treatment program leads to a foundation for a lasting recovery.
Find Fentanyl Treatment at Woodland Recovery Center
Fentanyl overdose is always a risk with substance use, even when you think you’re using a different type of drug, like cocaine. Getting treatment for substance use is a life-changing and often life-saving decision.
If you’re ready to begin your recovery journey, the programs at Woodland Recovery Center can offer the compassionate, evidence-based support you need to achieve lasting addiction recovery. Contact us at 662.222.2989 today to learn more about fentanyl overdose symptoms and substance use treatment at Woodland Recovery Center.
