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Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate analgesic considered 50-100 times more potent than morphine. The drug was first synthesized in the early 1960s by Belgian chemist Paul Janssen, later exploding on the global marketplace due to its efficacy in post-surgical pain management.
Considered a Schedule 11 Substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with a high potential for addiction, fentanyl continues to be prescribed for legitimate medical purposes, although its abuse in recent years has skyrocketed and illicit manufacturing and distribution practices have surged to epidemic proportions.
A spate of celebrity deaths including Prince has helped gradually increase awareness of fentanyl’s inherent dangers; however, it is still a major public health threat and enemy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016, approximately half of all opiate deaths involved fentanyl, exceeding the death toll of prescription opiates or heroin.
In the 1990s, modern medical technology introduced a highly effective, transdermal patch designated for short-term use (up to 72 hours) in opiate-tolerant patients. The patch, which resembles a large, square band aid, is exceptional for pain management but severely abused—usually by those recovering from surgery or being treated for terminal diseases like cancer. In this respect, it serves as a gateway to full-blown fentanyl addiction. The fentanyl patch is extremely popular, spawning a black market of users desperate to pay for the intense euphoria and pain relief it provides.
The powerful, unpredictable effects of fentanyl demand intensive professional treatment. Once addicted, users cannot afford the risks associated with casual self-guided therapy or at-home detox.
To understand the necessity of professional treatment, one must first consider how fentanyl works. Like other natural and synthetic opiates, fentanyl binds to opiate receptors located in the brain and central nervous system (CNS). This binding process rapidly alters the perception of pleasure and pain, which it achieves through the mechanism of artificially increasing dopamine— a major neurotransmitter. Although the initial euphoria associated with this state is highly desirable, it is short-lived and carries with it potentially fatal long-term risks.
Professional, medically supervised detox is a critical component to helping manage the intense, often debilitating withdrawal process associated with fentanyl addiction and prevent precipitated withdrawal— the rapid and sometimes deadly acceleration of withdrawal symptoms. Fentanyl is commonly laced with other illicit drugs by street chemists and sold in impure varieties containing cheap poisons or other dangerous chemical additives. This adds an unpredictable element to the already severe withdrawal symptoms experienced by users, which can include the following:
Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms may appear in as few as three or four hours following dosage, with the most severe symptoms peaking within one to two weeks in most cases. During this critical period, a professional rehab program can help stabilize a user and safely administer evidence-based pharmacological and therapeutic interventions designed to minimize discomfort and eliminate unnecessary risks.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) are another aspect of fentanyl detox that requires professional management. Although this protracted withdrawal process usually fades within months, it can linger for years and, in some cases, last permanently depending upon the extent of physical and neurological damage.
Fentanyl treatment and rehabilitation is a complex, high involved process geared toward gradually rebuilding psychological and physiological health. Like other hard-core opiates, fentanyl depletes vital nutrient reserves and alters brain structure and function, making it difficult for chronic users to function independently and responsibly. Although certain aspects of the fentanyl-damaged brain may remain unchanged with treatment—for example, the loss of gray matter or damaged neural pathways—many can be gradually rebuilt or improved with the right combination of medical and behavioral therapy. The human brain contains a miraculous, innate capacity to remodel itself over time, a process called neuroplasticity. Fortunately, neuroplasticity allows for significant improvement in even the most extreme fentanyl user— provided they adhere to treatment protocol and, most importantly, discontinue use.
Fentanyl treatment is available in a wide variety of options, all of which are appropriate for users in different stages of the addiction and withdrawal process. These include:
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a crucial aspect of intensive inpatient treatment that incorporates Food and Drug Administration-approved medications in combination with psychotherapy. Fentanyl addiction is safely and effectively treated by the following, evidence-based pharmacological interventions that form the core of MAT— in addition to whatever medications are incorporated into the regimen to treat co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and depression:
In addition to these MATs, the following evidence-based therapies are incorporated into the administration of a MAT:
If you or someone you love is struggling with fentanyl addiction, consult a substance abuse professional today. Fentanyl is a killer that knows no social, professional, economic, religious, or racial boundaries. It can affect anyone, at any time, regardless of whether or not there is a known genetic proclivity for addiction or history of prior use. Also remember, fentanyl overdose is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment at a hospital emergency room. Don’t delay, act now!
For more about fentanyl addiction and recovery, check out these related articles:
Sources:
Journal of Medical Toxicology. Transdermal fentanyl: pharmacology and toxicology. Dec, 2009.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM). Is Fentanyl Patch End-Of-Dose Failure Associated with Body Mass Index? Feb, 2018.
The New England Journal of Medicine. Addressing the Fentanyl Threat to Public Health. Feb, 2016.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Fentanyl-laced heroin: a report from an unexpected place. Feb, 2009.
