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The opioid epidemic shows no signs of slowing down in America, and that’s also true in Los Angeles – and, increasingly, overdoses are attributed to one particular opioid: Fentanyl. This powerful synthetic opioid that got its start for medical treatment of severe or chronic pain has flooded the market in recent years as illicit manufacturers make this relatively cheap but extremely potent drug and even mix it into other substances. Because of its highly addictive properties and the risks it poses for fatal overdoses, it’s vital to get help as soon as possible if you or a loved one is struggling with abusing this drug. In times like this, it’s important to understand that top addiction treatment centers like Muse Treatment can help. We offer a comprehensive range of programs to treat the physical and mental sides of addiction, including a specialized medically supervised detox program for fentanyl and an inpatient fentanyl rehab in Los Angeles. Let’s explore how we can help.
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Why Do People Use Fentanyl?
There are many reasons why people use fentanyl – its illicit version is cheap and often mixed with other drugs, for example. But let’s begin by exploring the intended use of fentanyl in medical applications. This synthetic opioid is most often prescribed to people who are suffering from severe pain after a surgery or medical procedure, and it’s also used for patients with chronic severe pain, such as those who have advanced cancer. In these applications, doctors carefully monitor how patients are responding to the medication and ensure the dosage is a safe level because fentanyl is very potent and can quickly cause unintended overdoses if not controlled.
However, the recreational abuse of fentanyl has become a crisis across the country as its illicit version, illegally made and distributed, has flooded the market. While some users do seek out this powerful opioid, many don’t even know that fentanyl has been mixed with the drug they were trying to take. Because illicit fentanyl is cheap and powerful, manufacturers will often mix it into things like heroin, meth, or cocaine to boost the high and cut costs. But it’s not regulated or monitored in uses like this, so people have no way of knowing if the drugs they’re taking contain fentanyl or if there’s a potentially fatal dose of the drug unknowingly hidden in the substance they think they’re using.
How to Tell If Someone Is Using Fentanyl?
There are several warning signs that someone might be using fentanyl – and if they are, they need help from an inpatient fentanyl rehab in Los Angeles like Muse Treatment to overcome this highly addictive substance. Like other opioids, fentanyl abuse can cause many physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms. Most likely, you’ll notice potential fentanyl addiction in the form of your loved one’s behavioral changes, such as:
- Continuing to use fentanyl despite suffering problems from the drug.
- Spending their days trying to get or use more fentanyl.
- Forging prescriptions or going to multiple doctors to try to get more fentanyl.
- Withdrawing from friends and family.
- Losing interest in things they once enjoyed.
- Missing work or school or not meeting their daily responsibilities.
- Struggling to concentrate or remember things.
- Depression or suicidal thoughts.
- Powerful cravings to use more fentanyl.
In addition, people who are struggling with an addiction to fentanyl will often exhibit physical signs like sudden weight loss, difficulty sleeping, and constricted pupils.
How Many People in Los Angeles Use Fentanyl?
Before we explain how an inpatient fentanyl rehab in Los Angeles can help people overcome fentanyl addiction, let’s look at how many people here use this drug. Accurate figures for this question are hard to come by because many people who used fentanyl didn’t even know they were taking it – it was mixed into some other substance they intended to take, such as methamphetamine, heroin, or cocaine.
Still, there are some statistics that point to the growing dangers of fentanyl in Los Angeles and beyond. For example, the County of Los Angeles Public Health said in a July 2024 report that fentanyl accounted for 64% of all alcohol or drug overdose deaths. Accidental fentanyl overdoses and deaths have jumped in the past decade from 109 in 2016 to 1,970 deaths in 2023. During this time, the number of emergency room visits or hospitalizations for fentanyl overdoses has also jumped considerably. The county’s statistics show this isn’t an equal impact – men made up the most overdoses, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations for fentanyl, and people in affluent areas made up more overdose deaths than those in less affluent areas of the county.
How to Stop Using Fentanyl?
Fentanyl’s potent nature and the feelings of euphoria it causes can make someone addicted to it almost immediately, and when that happens, it might feel impossible to ever stop. However, fentanyl addiction can be defeated with the right treatment programs and professional help. At Muse Treatment, we know this important step most often needs to begin with a comprehensive round of detox. When considering medical vs. non-medical Fentanyl detox, the medically supervised program at Muse Treatment can provide medications to help patients overcome opioid withdrawal more comfortably so they’re ready to begin treating the mental side of addiction in a drug rehab program. Without help, withdrawal symptoms can start as soon as just 12 hours after the last use, and the intense cravings and flu-like physical symptoms can quickly lead people to relapse. That’s why our supervised detox program helps people get through this short but important first step so they’re physically ready for the next round of treatment.
Our inpatient fentanyl rehab in Los Angeles offers a full range of treatment programs, including one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and life skills courses all designed to help people tackle the mental aspects of addiction and gain the strength and tools they’ll need to live their new lives in long-lasting recovery once they complete treatment. An inpatient setting allows patients to focus entirely on their recovery and remove themselves from temptations to relapse at home. Once they complete inpatient treatment, outpatient programs provide ongoing support and therapy as patients get used to being back home and returning to work or school.
Get Help from Muse Treatment’s Inpatient Fentanyl Rehab Los Angeles
Fentanyl is a dangerous, highly addictive drug, but each person who is lost to this substance represents a preventable tragedy. Help is available to help you or your loved one overcome fentanyl addiction and achieve lasting recovery. Your better future can begin with a medically supervised fentanyl detox program in Los Angeles at Muse Treatment’s drug addiction treatment center, where we can provide medications and medical support to help you safely and more comfortably overcome opioid withdrawal. After that, you’ll get the best compassionate care and help at our inpatient fentanyl rehab in Los Angeles and learn how to live without this damaging drug. A better future is possible, and we can help you achieve it. Take the first step toward freedom after addiction by calling Muse Treatment at 800-426-1818 today.
External Source
- County of Los Angeles Public Health – Fentanyl Overdoses in Los Angeles County
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