Fentanyl Detox in Los Angeles
When someone is struggling with fentanyl or other opioids, it’s life-threatening. According to current data, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, increased from 70,029 in 2020 to 80,816 in 2021.
Appropriate care is necessary, usually starting with a medically supervised detox. DetoxLA is a provider of fentanyl detox in Los Angeles. Our treatment center also provides inpatient rehab for a seamless transition. Our LA fentanyl rehab center is expert-led, and we treat opioid addiction as a chronic disease where recovery is always possible.
What To Know About Fentanyl
When we hear about the soaring overdose deaths in the United States, they’re often related to fentanyl. A potent opioid, fentanyl is synthetic, meaning it’s lab-made to be similar to morphine but 50-100 stronger.
Fentanyl is available as a prescription, but it’s also manufactured and used illegally. In medical scenarios, fentanyl is typically reserved for treating severe pain, especially after surgery.
As a prescription, brand names include Actiq, Sublimaze, and Duragesic.
Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are most frequently involved in overdose fatalities in the U.S. Many times, fentanyl is included in other drugs, and the person using them doesn’t know. Still, some people also seek it out because of its potency, especially if they’ve developed a tolerance to other opioids.
Illegally made fentanyl is sold as powders, nasal sprays, pills, or dropped onto blotter paper. The substances most often combined with fentanyl include methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and MDMA. Drug dealers will add fentanyl to substances because it produces a high, but it’s cheaper. Not knowing that something is laced with fentanyl puts the user at a high risk of overdosing.
Fentanyl addiction is overwhelming and affects every aspect of a person’s life. At DetoxLA, we are an LA fentanyl detox program. We also provide inpatient addiction treatment services at our LA fentanyl drug and alcohol detox center.tog
When someone uses fentanyl or other opioids, they work on the central nervous system and brain in similar ways. They bind to opioid receptors found in parts of the brain controlling emotions and pain. Eventually, the brain adapts to the presence of opioids, reducing its sensitivity to their effects. Over time, it becomes difficult to experience pleasure from anything except the drug.
All of these factors contribute to addiction. Once someone is addicted to opioids, their use of the drugs is compulsive. It’s not in their control, and a person may want to stop using opioids but find they’re unable to on their own.
The effects of fentanyl that can be immediately apparent include:
- Euphoria
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Problems breathing
If someone takes a dose of fentanyl more than their brain and body can tolerate, they may overdose. Overdoses occur when opioids cause life-threatening symptoms related to the slowdown of the central nervous system.
If someone overdoses on fentanyl, it can slow or stop their breathing and reduce the oxygen reaching their brain. A condition known as hypoxia, it can cause comas and permanent brain damage, and in severe instances, death.
If you’re looking for fentanyl treatment in Los Angeles, DetoxLA can help. Along with medical detox programs, we also offer inpatient addiction treatment for opioids and other substances.
Fentanyl is highly addictive and can cause dependence as well. Addiction is a brain disease, while dependence occurs to the physiological changes to the brain and body that occur with ongoing opioid use. A person can have a dependence on drugs without being addicted. With dependence, withdrawal symptoms usually occur when someone cuts back or stops using the substance.
The most severe level of a substance use disorder is technically known as addiction. Addiction, as a chronic disease, is characterized by out-of-control drug seeking and use, despite known negative effects. If a person has an addiction to opioids or other substances, they continue using them even when there are known health problems, relationship issues, or consequences at work or school.
Addiction is a serious disease requiring professional help in nearly all cases. Detox LA is a fentanyl detox in Los Angeles, and we also offer inpatient rehab programs to help you overcome addiction.
Fentanyl Withdrawal and Detox
When someone is dependent on opioids, it changes the function of their brain and their levels of certain brain chemicals. Stopping opioids can then lead to a period where your body and brain are trying to stabilize and return to a normal level of homeostasis. During this time, withdrawal symptoms can occur.
Withdrawal can range in severity, with symptoms including:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Bone or muscle pain
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Insomnia
- High body temperature
- Chills
- Sweating
Fentanyl withdrawal can be very uncomfortable, raising the risk of relapse. The severity of symptoms depends on how long someone uses opioids, the amount, and other mental or physical health conditions. Complications from fentanyl withdrawal can also occur, meaning it’s essential to get medical supervision before attempting to detox from the drug.
Complications can include severe dehydration and a higher overdose risk if you relapse and begin using fentanyl after abstaining.
At DetoxLA, a specialized fentanyl detox in Los Angeles, our team provides medical care, supervision, and an inpatient rehab program once detox is complete.
Treatments for Fentanyl Withdrawal
Some medicines can be used if you go to a medical detox program, along with around-the-clock supervision and monitoring of your health and well-being. These medications are approved to help with fentanyl withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Medications include opioid agonists that stimulate the same receptors as fentanyl but without the high and partial opioid agonists like buprenorphine. Buprenorphine attaches to the same opioid receptors as fentanyl, but only partially, reducing cravings and symptoms.
Along with medicines specifically approved for opioid withdrawal symptoms, other options can be used to treat specific symptoms, such as anxiety, on an as-needed basis.
Medical detox helps you stay stable and prevents potential complications during withdrawal. If you’d like to learn more about fentanyl detox in Los Angeles, contact DetoxLA.
What Happens After Detox?
Once someone fully detoxes from fentanyl and any other substances, they can move into the rehab portion of their treatment. Detox isn’t a standalone cure for addiction, although it’s a necessary first step.
From there, a person usually goes into inpatient treatment, which is intensive and structured. Inpatient rehab is residential, so you live onsite during this time as you participate in group and individual therapy and begin to understand the root causes of addiction and develop healthy new coping strategies.
If you or a loved one is struggling with fentanyl or other opioids, contact DetoxLA to learn about our comprehensive medical detox and inpatient rehab programs in Los Angeles.