Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in San Diego

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Fentanyl is a highly addictive opiate that is common and accessible. At Refresh Recovery, we take its withdrawal seriously and its rehab and proper treatment requires knowledge of the substance, its physical side effects and a tailored approach for long term recovery.

Higher Overdose Deaths Involving Synthetic Opiates in 2019 Compared to 2013

112%

Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. It is a synthetic opioid 85-100 times stronger than morphine because of its powerful opioid properties, which is why it also gets diverted for abuse.

However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl. It is sold through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge—to increase its euphoric effects.

Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency or be disguised as stronger heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and ignore that they are getting fentanyl – which unfortunately results in overdose deaths. 

Apace, China Town, China Girl, China White, Dance Fever, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Tango & Cash and Poison are some of its more common street names.

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Fentanyl Side Effects

Fentanyl is prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges.

It produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, respiratory depression, and pupillary constriction.

The neural basis of fentanyl addiction

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat patients with severe pain. Roughly 35% of users eventually become addicted, a number that is significantly higher than that observed with psychostimulants; therefore, the risk of death by overdose is extremely high. 

Fentanyl Overdoses

Rates of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, increased over 16% from 2018 to 2019. Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids were nearly 12 times higher in 2019 than in 2013. Almost 40,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids in 2019.3 The latest provisional drug overdose death counts through May 2020 suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government Actions to fight the Fentanyl Epidemic

The increase in overdose deaths highlights the need to ensure people most at risk of overdose can access care, as well as the need to expand prevention and response activities. CDC has a Health Alert Network Advisory to medical and public health professionals, first responders, harm reduction organizations, and other community partners recommending the following actions as appropriate based on local needs and characteristics:

  1. Enhance distribution and use of naloxone and overdose prevention information.
  2. Expand awareness about, access to and availability of treatment for substance use disorders.
  3. Intervene early with addicts at highest risk for overdose.
  4. Improve detection of overdose outbreaks to respond more quickly.
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Treating Fentanyl Addiction in San Diego with Science

Fentanyl Addiction Rehab at Refresh Recovery San Diego

Refresh Recovery rehab San Diego aims to fight the neural basis of fentanyl addiction, understand the molecular mechanism of circuit modulation and to provide future therapies in the face of the growing opioid overdose epidemic in the United States. Our substance use disorder clinicians have studied the synaptic processes and neuronal population activity leading to addiction. We aim to define the role of positive and negative reinforcement in fentanyl addiction in contrast with current circuit models based on psychostimulants.

If you or someone you care for is unfortunately addicted to fentanyl, approach Refresh Recovery Addiction Treatment Center in San Diego, California, to learn in detail about our rehab and outpatient programs. Mental health, such as depression and anxiety, is an element that Refresh Recovery provides specific attention. Because drug and alcohol use disorder affect aspects of our psychology and behavior, we believe that dual diagnosis rehabilitation is essential for the long term sobriety required.

Get the Highest Level of Fentanyl Addiction Rehab in San Diego

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