When people talk about drug abuse, they are often talking about substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Unfortunately, a lot of people enter the world of drug abuse due to prescription medications. For example, some people might end up taking hydrocodone, oxycodone, Percocet, or Vicodin and could end up getting hooked on them. One of the most common culprits is a potent opioid called fentanyl. Fentanyl is commonly used to blunt pain in the medical setting. Unfortunately, fentanyl is also incredibly addictive. Everyone needs to understand what fentanyl is and how this opioid can lead to addiction. Our Georgia Addiction Treatment Center team can help educate individuals and provide the necessary support to recover.
An Overview of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is one of the most powerful prescription painkillers in the world. Fentanyl can be delivered in various ways; however, regardless of how fentanyl is given to someone, they are affected. When someone takes Fentanyl, this medication is going to bind to specific receptors throughout the body. When it binds these receptors, it will prevent pain signals from being interpreted by the brain.
For example, if you have recently broken your leg, the doctor may inject fentanyl to ease your pain. This medication will bind to receptors in the brain, preventing the pain signals in your life from reaching the brain. Unfortunately, fentanyl can also lead to prescription drug abuse and painkiller abuse. How does this happen?
Looking for Something More Powerful
Similar to other painkillers, you may eventually develop a tolerance to them. For example, you may end up needing more fentanyl to achieve the same results. Therefore, you may end up looking for something more powerful. This is one of the major risks of opioid medications, including fentanyl. You could end up getting hooked on them, reaching for something else.
If you develop a tolerance to fentanyl, you may end up taking more than the doctor recommends. Some of the major risks of an overdose of fentanyl include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Develop an altered mental status, such as extreme confusion and disorientation
- A dangerously slowed respiratory drive could result in stopping breathing and death
For all of these reasons, you must be wary of prescription drug abuse and painkiller abuse, including those involving Fentanyl.
Fentanyl as a Gateway Medication
Furthermore, if fentanyl no longer ends up working for you, your addiction could cause you to look for something else. For example, you may end up turning to drugs that are on the street, looking for a way to control your pain and feed your addiction.
When you become this dedicated to painkillers, you end up shirking all other responsibilities. You could end up skipping class, causing your grades to suffer. You might stop going to work, leaving your family struggling to pay the bills. You could also destroy your personal relationships with family members and friends that you can feed an addiction. Do not let this happen to you. Instead, rely on trained medical professionals, such as the Georgia Addiction Treatment Center team, to help you address this issue.
Contact Georgia Addiction Treatment Center for Help with Fentanyl Addiction
If you are looking for help controlling Fentanyl and other prescription pain medications, do not hesitate to ask for help. At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we have a wide variety of treatment resources at our disposal. We have experts who work hard to stay on top of the latest information, and they are filled daily. We do this because we believe this places us in the best position possible to provide you with the care you deserve. Contact us today at 833.641.0661 or through our online form to make an appointment with our team.
At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we understand that every person struggling with addiction is unique. That means that every person’s path to recovery must be unique as well. With more than 40 million Americans suffering at the hand of addiction, it is more important than ever that we address this crisis head-on. We specialize in helping patients who are battling substance use disorders. More specifically, treat the whole person by diagnosing the issues that lie beneath and feed their addiction. It is an approach that has made us one of the premier addiction treatment centers in the area. By learning more about Georgia Addiction Treatment Center and our unique approach, you can take the first steps on your road to recovery.
