Fentanyl Detox Los Angeles

Is Detox Necessary for Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a highly addictive, potent, synthetic opioid drug that is habit-forming. It is characterized as a Schedule II substance by the DEA (the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration). This is a medication that is prescribed to treat severe short-term pain and chronic pain, but over recent years has been found in a significant amount of heroin and counterfeit drugs being sold on the street. Drug dealers cut fentanyl into their products to increase its street value and potency, not only creating more addictions but also leading to more opioid overdose deaths as a result.

Fentanyl binds with the receptors in the brain that signal pain and control emotions, making chemical and physiological changes that create a strong physical dependence, leading to addiction. For this reason, it is never recommended to stop using fentanyl “cold turkey”. The opioid withdrawal syndrome that occurs when detoxing from fentanyl is extremely uncomfortable and distressing, with withdrawal symptoms including:

Experiencing these symptoms will become extremely difficult and overwhelming, to the point where most people will relapse, continuing to use opioid drugs just to avoid the discomfort, thus reinforcing the cycle of drug abuse.

The best way to quit fentanyl is through a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program.

Withdrawal symptoms from substances like fentanyl and Zoloft can be effectively managed by gradually tapering off the drug, especially under a medically supervised detox program. For opioids like fentanyl, the use of prescribed, FDA-approved medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and/or naltrexone can significantly mitigate the severe withdrawal symptoms during the detox phase. Similarly, when weaning off Zoloft, a structured reduction plan is pivotal to manage potential symptoms and avoid a sudden shock to the system.

After the initial detoxification, a longer-term rehabilitation plan is crucial, considering the possibility of rebound withdrawal symptoms that may occur. These are symptoms, akin to flu, and intense drug cravings that can manifest unexpectedly weeks or even months after completing rehab, both for people who have quit using opioids and those weaning off Zoloft.

For people quitting substances like fentanyl and those weaning off Zoloft, maintaining a continued connection to a sober community and support is crucial during these challenging times. This ongoing support helps individuals navigate through unexpected cravings and emotional upheavals, offering a safeguard against relapsing, and fostering resilience and sustained recovery. A holistic approach, encompassing medical, psychological, and communal support, is fundamental in ensuring long-term sobriety and mental well-being.

The Dangers of Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a dangerous opioid drug due to its extreme potency. Reasons to stop using fentanyl or avoid it altogether include:

1. It is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and hundreds of times more potent than heroin, creating an extremely high danger of overdosing each time you use it
2. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2018, opioids were involved in 46,802 deaths, with approximately 2/3 of those being due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl
3. A fatal amount of fentanyl (0.25 milligrams) is almost invisible to the naked eye. It is about the size of a few grains of salt
4. It can be absorbed through the skin, so even handling it can be fatal
5. There is no “quality control” when you buy street drugs so pills, powders, and liquids may all contain enough fentanyl to kill you, even if you believe you are buying something else like cocaine, oxy, or heroin. There may also be other additives that can cause internal damage, like baking soda or harsh cleaning chemicals
6. Fentanyl overdose deaths most often occur when a person uses alone, changes their method of use, changes their drug dealer, uses fentanyl along with other drugs or alcohol, or uses somebody else’s prescription
7. Fentanyl use can cause constipation and serious stomach and digestion issues, and it can also cause serious, long-term damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems
8. If you inject fentanyl, side effects include collapsed veins, scarring, track marks, and skin abscesses
9. Fentanyl use can impair your judgment and cause issues with decision making and behavior control, causing you to make dangerous decisions like sharing needles, having unprotected sex, driving while impaired, or taking dangerous amounts of drugs
10. Mental health or emotional regulation issues can worsen or develop due to fentanyl use

Fentanyl causes breathing and heart rate to slow down enough to cause hypoxia, with not enough oxygen getting to the brain, which, along with coma and death, can also cause permanent brain damage and cognitive defects even if you are revived. It is crucial that you call 911 and administer naloxone immediately if you are with somebody and they display overdose signs like:

These symptoms may occur just minutes after taking the drug or can show up slowly over a few hours. Acting quickly may save a person’s life. Call for emergency assistance, administer naloxone, and perform rescue breathing until help arrives.

Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Common fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include:

What Happens During Fentanyl Detox?

Quitting fentanyl is not easy. It is a drug that not only feels good when you first take it, but it also makes changes to the brain, rewiring neural and chemical pathways to make you crave more and more of the drug, even when you want to quit. Entering a medical detox program for addiction treatments is the safest and most effective way to break the cycle of drug abuse and quit fentanyl for good.

The best way to detox from fentanyl is a slow taper off the drug, combined with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and an integrated program with counseling and behavioral therapy, along with 24-hour medical supervision in a sober inpatient drug detox facility.

How Long Will Fentanyl Detox Take?

Detoxing from fentanyl is different for everybody, depending on factors like:

When you enter a drug detox Costa Mesa program, the people performing your intake will be able to give you a more straightforward timeline after they find out these details.

It usually takes around five to seven days, with opioid withdrawal syndrome beginning within 12 to 30 hours after your last dose, peaking in the first few days, then leveling off within a week or two. This timeline is extended if you choose to taper off the drug, switching to methadone or another opioid drug, a safer and less traumatic course of action for most people.

Weaning off fentanyl should be done under medical supervision, with a doctor who will provide a safe tapering schedule to help you avoid the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.

Identifying Fentanyl Addiction

Signs of fentanyl addiction include:

1. Being unable to quit fentanyl even when you really want to, continuing use even when it begins to affect friendships, your home life, your work, and your finances
2. Excessive drowsiness, with changes to sleep patterns
3. A lack of self-care and hygiene, noticeable weight loss
4. Isolating yourself from friends and family, and abandoning hobbies and responsibilities in favor of using more fentanyl
5. All social activity begins to revolve around obtaining, using and recovering from fentanyl
6. Developing a physical tolerance, needing to take more to achieve the same effects
7. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop or cut back

Fentanyl Detox at Resurgence for Los Angeles Residents

Fentanyl detox does not need to be painful or scary. When you first enter a Resurgence Behavioral Health treatment center for detox, we will provide a full medical evaluation, a psychological screening, and interview you to get to know more about your history of drug use, your physical and mental health, and how we can best help you through detox and rehabilitation.

Together with you, we will come up with a full treatment plan that integrates detox, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation that will work for you. This includes verifying insurance, working with your home life situation, and helping you choose the program that will best suit your unique needs and preferences.

During medication-assisted fentanyl detox at Resurgence, you will move into our safe, sober facility for the duration of your detox, staying in a comfortable full-sized bed in a welcoming, home-like environment (not a hospital). The withdrawal symptoms will be treated as soon as they begin to develop, to avoid unnecessary suffering and pain as the drugs are removed from your system.

At the Resurgence drug detox center, we will provide medications and evidence-based detox methods that will help you slowly taper off fentanyl. These medications include:

Along with medications, 24-hour medical oversight, healthy food, and a comfortable room, we also provide treatments for the psychological aspects of addiction in a whole-patient approach to healing. This includes counseling and therapy, to help you with the difficult emotions and thoughts that are likely to arise as you detox. If you have been diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health condition or mental illness like bipolar disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety, or ADHD, we can also begin dual diagnosis treatment that may involve specific therapies and psychiatric medication. These treatments will continue as you move forward in your inpatient and/or outpatient rehabilitation program.

To find out more about our safe and comfortable fentanyl detox and best drug rehab programs in Los Angeles, Resurgence drug treatment center, contact our team today. We can help you wean off fentanyl safely, and through our integrated continuum of care including intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs, we will help you gain recovery skills, heal the underlying causes of your addiction, and move toward a healthy, productive, sober life. Because fentanyl has longer-lasting effects than many drugs, we can work with you to create a long-term support system, with connections to groups, sober living homes, therapists, doctors, and a sober community of peers and alumni who will be there for you. You will never be alone in your recovery with Resurgence drug rehab.

Looking for Fentanyl detox in Los Angeles? Reach out to the experts at Resurgence today! #fentanyldetox #fentanyloverdosehttps://t.co/nMhJpExaqc

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) April 22, 2022

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

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