The opioid epidemic is one of our time’s greatest public health crises. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 107,375 people died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings from last year. Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl, rose 55.6 percent and seem to have driven the increase in total drug overdose deaths.
A drug that is extremely dangerous is fentanyl and it’s important to know that fentanyl addiction can be treated. At Recovery at Crossroads, we offer intensive care and outpatient recovery tracks depending on our client’s needs. The recovery programs are structured to incorporate all aspects of our client’s needs. If you or your loved one is struggling with drug addiction, please reach out to us at 888-466-5950 now.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that’s 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine or heroin. It’s available as a prescription to treat severe pain and is known in prescription form as Actiq®, Duragesic® and Sublimaze®. Listed as a schedule II drug by the FDA, it’s typically only given along with cancer treatment or to patients who don’t respond to other prescription opioids due to tolerance or chronic pain episodes.
Fentanyl that’s available for recreational use is sold illegally in powdered or pill form. It’s also put in eye droppers and nasal sprays and can be mixed with other drugs without the user’s awareness.
The Non-Medical Use of Fentanyl
Drug dealers tend to mix fentanyl with other illegal substances because very little fentanyl is needed to produce a high, making it a cheap, highly effective option for cutting other drugs. This fact has contributed to both an increase in fentanyl addiction and an increased number of opioid-related deaths.
Due to its prevalence, low cost and powerful effects, many other substances, such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, methamphetamines and benzodiazepines, often contain fentanyl without the user knowing.
According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, “Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered.”
What are the Signs of Fentanyl Addiction?
People suffering from addiction don’t always show signs of the battle they’re fighting. In many cases, they can hide their addiction to fentanyl and other opioids from others, even close friends, family members and spouses. That’s why general awareness is needed when people ask, “What is fentanyl addiction?” and “How is fentanyl addiction treated?”
However, there are signs and symptoms of fentanyl addiction and drug abuse that’ll start to be obvious and produce harmful consequences. These include behavioral, physical, cognitive and psychosocial symptoms, such as:
- Withdrawing socially
- Frequent missed appointments or days at work/school
- Slurred speech and constricted pupils
- Not completing daily tasks and responsibilities
- Being “sick” often due to the time needed to recover from fentanyl use
- Acquiring prescriptions for other opioid medications
- Psychomotor agitation
- Problems with attention and concentration
- Depression and mania
- Periods of excitement and happiness followed by depression and apathy
A Breakdown of Fentanyl Addiction in New Jersey
National overdose deaths in the U.S. have risen and more than quadrupled since 1999. These numbers have only increased during the pandemic. The CDC reported that mental health struggles such as increased anxiety and depression, along with suicidal ideation, played a role in the rising numbers of substance abuse disorder and drug overdose deaths.
The most recent data from the NJ medical examiner’s office shows fentanyl was found in the bodies of 2,248 people. About 75% of all New Jersey drug death victims tested positive for fentanyl, more than double the 36% who tested positive for heroin.
Overdoses Relating to Drug Abuse in New Jersey
Within Recovery at the Crossroad’s footprint (Camden County, Gloucester County, Burlington County, Salem County & Cumberland County) overdoses on fentanyl and other opioids deaths make up 521 deaths from January 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022. That’s 25% of all fentanyl-related death in New Jersey!
The opioid crisis has rapidly changed over the last few years. On a once-dominant landscape of heroin, it now hardly exists as an independent presence in the illicit drug market.
Although drug overdoses disproportionately affect marginalized populations in New Jersey and across the nation, the epidemic affects people across all demographics. Fentanyl continues to take the lives of thousands each year, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability or socioeconomic status.
Why Is Fentanyl So Dangerous?
Fentanyl works by hijacking the opioid receptors that control pain relief and emotion. This causes users to become desensitized to usual stimuli while triggering a state of euphoria or confusion. Addiction can quickly take hold with these drugs leading people to struggle to control both their emotions and physical sensations such as sedation, breathlessness or even unconsciousness in extreme cases.
The most dangerous part of fentanyl is the low amount needed for an overdose to occur. All it takes is 0.25 milligrams of opioid drugs, like fentanyl, to send the body into a life-threatening state of sedation and respiratory distress. When mixing fentanyl with other drugs, even less than 0.25 milligrams of fentanyl can lead to an overdose. The dangers of fentanyl outweigh the positive 100 folds.
The Dangers of Illegal Fentanyl
The misuse of illegal drugs has become increasingly risky and unpredictable due in part to the presence of trace amounts of fentanyl. This knowledge is unbeknownst even to suppliers themselves as substances are often cut multiple times without a clear indication of how much or when it was added; making any purchase an unknown risk that could quickly prove deadly.
Fentanyl is a powerful but dangerous opioid whose addictive properties make it difficult for those who become dependent to stop on their own. To safely quit, fentanyl addiction treatment is essential — a step that can be the difference between life and death.
Fentanyl Addiction Treatment at Recovery at the Crossroads
At Recovery at the Crossroads, we offer several treatment options for patients who are addicted to fentanyl, from partial hospitalization (PHP) to outpatient programs (IOP). Our experienced team of professionals offers advanced rehabilitation strategies and personalized care to empower clients in their recovery journey, equipping them with the necessary tools for a successful life free from addiction.
Located in the heart of Camden County, Recovery at the Crossroads provides treatment in a beautiful setting designed for healing. At Recovery at the Crossroads, comprehensive care helps those suffering from opioid dependence and other forms of substance misuse. Our clients receive support tackling fentanyl withdrawal plus behavioral therapies to get them on a path to recovery.
Partial Hospitalization
The Partial Hospitalization option provides more intensive care than the available outpatient programs.
Our experienced team emphasizes patient-centered care, offering complete intake assessments and customized treatment plans in a home-like environment to ensure clients feel comfortable during their withdrawal period. Detoxing from opioids can be hazardous, so users must undergo the process under strict supervision to ensure safety. Fortunately, medications are available that help reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms and treat fentanyl addiction more safely.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
The intensive outpatient programs available at Recovery at the Crossroads are designed to help those understand the core of their addiction and how to change its pattern.
Our outpatient program staff provides residents with resources and a safe environment to help them heal from past traumas or make better choices than those that lead them into drug addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy, group sessions, medication management, and psychoeducational groups give individuals an opportunity for transformation on their journey toward personal growth.
Residential Rehab
Addiction treatment is a journey and sobriety can seem far away. Our residential rehab in NJ gives those on the path to healing a chance to get closer to recovery. Our peer recovery support specialists oversee our Sober Living arrangements. We bridge the gap between outpatient services, offering attendees cutting-edge addiction treatments and an escape from their day, offering them a peaceful safe haven and helping make progress towards lasting sobriety achievable.
How We Can Help with Substance Use Disorder
Rated one of the best drug and alcohol treatment centers in New Jersey, our facility provides a safe, comforting place for those with addiction to heal from the physical and emotional wounds caused by active addiction.
We are one of New Jersey’s only opioid drug addiction treatment centers focusing on our Jewish community.
If you suffer from fentanyl addiction or have a loved one who’s facing it, you already know how quickly addiction can cause havoc in someone’s life, family, career and health. There’s never a better moment than now to reach out for help and prevent yourself or your loved one from becoming another statistic. To speak with a fentanyl addiction specialist today, call (888) 342-3881 or submit a confidential form with insurance information and we will respond ASAP!
