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Tag: fentanyl overdose

  • How to Find the Best Luxury Fentora Rehab and Addiction Treatment

    How to Find the Best Luxury Fentora Rehab and Addiction Treatment

    Looking for info on Fentora Addiction and Treatment? Use this helpful guide to find the answers you need.

    1. What is Fentora and What is it Used for?
    2. Alternative Names for Fentora
    3. Fentora Abuse and Addiction
    4. Do I Need Fentora Rehab?
    5. Serious Risks of Putting off Fentora Rehab
    6. Fentora overdose symptoms
    7. Detox and Withdrawal before Fentora Rehab
    8. Treatment in Fentora Rehab
    9. Fentora Addiction Help – Choosing a Fentora Rehab

    Fentora, a brand name for the generic opioid drug fentanyl, can cause severe addiction and fatal overdose in anyone who misuses it. Fentanyl has been largely responsible for the huge increase in opioid overdose deaths in the last few years, leading to an epidemic of drug-related deaths in the U.S. 

    If you or someone you love is abusing Fentora, you need to get professional help immediately. Treatment for Fentora addiction is available and it is effective. To find the best Fentora rehab, look for facilities that combine medical treatment with psychotherapy and that are staffed by experienced professionals in working with opioid users and fentanyl addiction. 

    What is Fentora and What is it Used for?

    Fentora is a brand name for the synthetic opioid fentanyl. It is made by Cephalon, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals. The tablets are approved only for the treatment of specific types of pain in certain patients. It is used for adult cancer patients with breakthrough pain. This is the pain that persists even when a patient is managing chronic pain with other medications, usually opioids. 

    This painkiller is a strong opioid narcotic, and it is not supposed to be used in patients with no opioid tolerance. It is only for those who have already been managing pain with opioids and have developed some degree of tolerance to these kinds of drugs. 

    The reason it is so important that only opioid-tolerant patients use Fentora is that it is extremely potent, the strongest of all the opioids. Fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is extremely dangerous for anyone without opioid tolerance to use it. 

    Alternative Names for Fentora

    Fentora is just one brand for the generic, synthetic opioid known as fentanyl. Other brand names for fentanyl are Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Onsolis, and Sublimaze. Some of these brand name products are tablets, while others are skin patches. Street names used for fentanyl may include all the opioid names that are used when these drugs are bought, sold and used illegally: 

    • Captain Cody
    • Cody
    • Doors and Fours
    • Pancakes and Syrup
    • White Stuff
    • Pain Killer 
    • Apache
    • China Girl
    • China White
    • Friend
    • Goodfella
    • Dance Fever
    • Juice
    • Dillies
    • Tango and Cash
    • TNT
    • Murder 8
    • Jackpot
    • Great Bear
    • He-Man

    Fentora Abuse and Addiction

    Opioid drugs like Fentora are highly susceptible to abuse, because in addition to relieving pain, they cause pleasant sensations like relaxation, sleepiness, and euphoria, a very strong sense of well-being. Fentora abuse encompasses any use of this drug for which it is not prescribed. If you use it without a prescription, use it to get high, or use larger or more frequent doses than recommended, you are abusing Fentora. 

    The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies Fentora and other fentanyl products as a schedule II controlled substance. This is the second-tightest level of control, and fentanyl has been placed there because of the very high susceptibility to abuse and because it is extremely habit-forming. When abusing Fentora, you can become addicted quickly because of how potent it is. Even patients who need this drug and use it as directed can develop Fentora dependence. 

    Do I Need Fentora Rehab?

    If you abuse Fentora at all, you probably do need rehab. This drug becomes addictive so quickly and the risks of abusing it are so high that getting professional help is recommended for anyone misusing it. Any misuse of Fentora is problematic and risky, so if you are at all concerned about your behaviors with this drug, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. 

    In general, there are 11 characteristic behaviors that addiction professionals look for in someone who may have an opioid use disorder. You only need to have two or three of these to be considered addicted and to be able to benefit from rehab and treatment: 

    • You routinely use more fentanyl or Fentora than you wanted to or planned. 
    • Your use has gotten out of control to the point where you want to stop or cut back but continuously fail at these attempts. 
    • When you’re not using Fentora you have cravings for it.
    • An increasing amount of your time is spent getting high or in activities related to drug use. 
    • Because of that time spent with fentanyl, your responsibilities are not being met to the degree they should. 
    • You are also giving up other activities to engage in more substance use. 
    • Your relationships are beginning to suffer because of drug use, but that doesn’t stop you.
    • You continue using fentanyl even though it is putting your health at risk or causing or worsening medical conditions or mental illnesses. 
    • You have used Fentora more than once in a situation that put you in danger. 
    • You have developed a tolerance, needing more fentanyl to get high or feel normal. 
    • When not using Fentora, you begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. 

    Any of these troubling behaviors should lead you to ask for help. Or, if you see any of these in someone you know, offer help and encourage your friend or loved one to go to Fentora rehab. 

    Serious Risks of Putting off Fentora Rehab

    If you are abusing Fentora and choose not to go to rehab, not to get treatment, or to delay getting help, you are putting your health, well-being, and even your life at risk. Fentora side effects, for example, are not necessarily severe, but you increase the risk of having them and having more severe Fentora effects when you misuse this drug. These include nausea, confusion, headaches, constipation, drowsiness, and shallow breathing. 

    You could even have more serious side effects when misusing Fentora, like skin rashes, sexual dysfunction, weight loss, an abnormal heartbeat, nausea with vomiting, hallucinations and other types of psychosis, and even seizures. 

    Misuse of any drug, but especially one as risky as fentanyl, can also put you at risk for related health conditions. You may develop or experience worse symptoms of mental illnesses from abusing Fentora. And, there can be serious ripple effects throughout your life. Your loved ones may cut ties with you; you could get in trouble with the law and even go to jail; you may lose your job; and you could be injured or assaulted while under the influence. 

    While all these Fentora addiction side effects are serious, the biggest risk of all is overdose.

    A Fentora overdose is characterized by:

    • Drowsiness, sleepiness, unresponsiveness
    • Dizziness
    • Confusion
    • Slow, shallow breathing
    • Difficulty breathing or reduced urge to breathe
    • Clammy, cold skin and blue tint in lips and nails

    An opioid overdose can be reversed, but it can also quickly be fatal. Call for emergency medical help right away. Because fentanyl is so potent, it can trigger an overdose even in experienced opioid users. The risk is even higher if combined with similar central nervous system depressants: other opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sedatives, and alcohol. 

    Detox and Withdrawal before Fentora Rehab

    Fentora abuse is so dangerous that treatment is needed immediately. The first step in that process is to detox. When you detox from this drug, you will go through Fentora withdrawal side effects. Initially these will cause you to experience anxiety and agitation, general discomfort, sweating, a runny nose, yawning, tearing, muscle aches, and insomnia. 

    How long this process takes depends on individual factors, but those initial Fentora withdrawal effects will get worse. They will transition within a day or two into symptoms that include abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, goosebumps, and body chills. 

    Fentora withdrawal is not actually dangerous. You will feel awful, but none of the symptoms are damaging. The real risk is relapse, which can trigger an unintentional overdose. This is a good enough reason to avoid going it alone. Fentora detox should always be conducted with supervision, preferably professional care. 

    Treatment in Fentora Rehab

    Your stint in rehab may begin with detox and withdrawal. Some facilities provide this service. If the rehab center you choose does not, you will be required to go through detox before intake. Look for a detox service so you don’t have to do it alone. Medical care while going through detox can make you feel better and help prevent a dangerous and damaging relapse. 

    Fentora treatment in rehab will include two main types of care: medical and psychological. Addiction to opioids is one of the few types of drug addiction that can be managed with approved medications. However, this does not mean that medication is enough. You must have long-term therapy as well in order to effectively achieve a lasting recovery and reduce your risks of relapse and overdose. 

    Fentora addiction treatment with medications may include opioid agonists like methadone or buprenorphine. These are two drugs that act like opioids but to a lesser degree than fentanyl. They can reduce your cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, which means it blocks the receptors that fentanyl binds to in the brain. When on it, you will get no effects from any opioid, so it helps to prevent relapse. 

    Therapy is the long-lasting treatment that will really help you mitigate Fentora addiction symptoms and avoid relapse in the future. Behavioral therapists will help you explore your emotions and behaviors to change them in positive ways. Therapy can also help you learn how to recognize and avoid triggers for substance use and practice better coping mechanisms. 

    More specialized types of therapy will help you relate better to other people and develop healthier relationships with friends and family. Trauma-focused therapy can help you explore any past traumatic experiences and process them so that they won’t contribute to future drug use. 

    Fentora Addiction Help – Choosing a Fentora Rehab

    Getting addiction help as soon as possible is essential for recovery and for immediately reducing the risk of a fatal overdose. Choosing a Fentora rehab is a big decision, but time is also an issue. Let a trusted family member or friend help you at this time. This person can narrow down options for you so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming. Whether you are searching for rehab for yourself or guiding a loved one, there are certain factors to look for in the best facilities and treatment programs:

    • A detailed intake process that includes a thorough evaluation for all substance use disorders, any mental illnesses, and past traumas 
    • A treatment program that is developed after the evaluation and that takes into account each patient’s unique needs, abilities, and preferences 
    • Staff members that include various professionals with a range of expertise: physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, nurses, alternative medicine practitioners, and others 
    • A program that includes both medical care and therapy 
    • Diverse offerings for supportive services, including alternative therapies, healthy lifestyle training, life skills, vocational training, aftercare services, group and community support, and relapse prevention programming 
    • A staff that is compassionate, professional, and dedicated to helping patients 

    In addition to these things that should be present in any rehab that you choose, look for individual factors that make you feel comfortable. Maybe the setting is important, and the facility needs to be close to home so your family can be involved. Or you may prefer a treatment center that allows you to have your own room. You may prefer treatment that includes a lot of recreation or time spent outdoors. These are all individual preferences that can be considered to make your experience better. 

    You will also need to choose between residential and outpatient Fentora treatment programs. For serious addictions like this one, residential care is typically recommended. It allows you to focus on recovery in a safe environment. When the risk of relapse is high, outpatient care can be dangerous. On the other hand, you may respond better to treatment if you can stay at home with supportive family members. 

    The decisions surrounding Fentora rehab and treatment are largely personal. You need to choose what is best for you, but knowing what’s best is difficult at this time. Rely on someone you trust to help you make these choices, but ultimately you must make the choice to get help. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • What Is Fentanyl Addiction and What Are the Best Treatment Options?

    What Is Fentanyl Addiction and What Are the Best Treatment Options?

    Use this helpful guide to find out all you need to know about Fentanyl addiction.

    1. What is Fentanyl and what causes Fentanyl addiction?
    2.     What are the common street names for Fentanyl?
    3. What are the common Fentanyl side effects?
    4.     What are the commercial names for Fentanyl?
    5. How to treat Fentanyl addiction?
    6.     What are the rehab options available for Fentanyl addiction?
    7. How to find the best Fentanyl rehab near you?
    8. Conclusion

    Doctors recommend everyone to eat healthy and work out often. Do you know why? This is because our body needs to stay healthy and active to carry out its day-to-day tasks. 

    When we get sick, our doctors recommend we take medicine for it. But, using medicine frequently can stop our natural immune system from functioning correctly. When we take a pain medication frequently, the drugs in the medication may create a number of side effects that go unnoticed since they aren’t very prominent. Hence, we might ignore the minor side effects and go on taking more and more of these prescription drugs. A recent survey found that the number of people suffering from prescription drug abuse is increasing at an alarming rate. This should make us reconsider whether we really should take these prescription drugs, and for how long.

    About 38% of the total population in America has faced a drug use disorder at least once in their life. Addiction can sometimes lead to intense craving for drugs and/or alcohol. Addictive substances induce a pleasurable feeling in the brain, while blocking other drives like motivation and memory. Drugs are often used as a source of escape for stressful situations in life. When someone suffers from anxiety or depression, they may take drugs, thinking it will alter their mood and make them feel better. Although drugs may make you feel better for a while, they can cause a lot of physical and psychological problems later on.

    When someone becomes dependent on drugs, they usually start experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they don’t take them on time. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable physical and mental reactions which occur when the body cannot get the drug it craves. To avoid this discomfort, addicts have to constantly seek out their drug of addiction and this cycle can go on for a long time. 

    Addiction often leads people to isolation. When someone struggles with addiction, they tend to avoid their family and friends. Addiction may also cause poor immunity, memory changes, and frequent mood swings. Some medications can also lead to addiction. Many painkillers that contain drugs to give instant relief from pain, can cause addiction if used for a long time. An overdose of these medications can prove to be fatal. 

    What is Fentanyl and what causes Fentanyl addiction? 

    Fentanyl is given to patients suffering from breakthrough pain such as the pain caused by cancer. Breakthrough pain occurs even when someone is on round-the-clock treatment for pain. Fentanyl should not be taken more than 4 times a day. Fentanyl is available in several forms, such as a lozenge (Actiq), sublingual (under the tongue) tablet (Abstral), a film (Onsolis), and between the gum and cheek tablet (Fentora). Your doctor will usually start the medication with a mild dose and then gradually increase it if the pain persists. 

    Being a synthetic opioid, Fentanyl is highly addictive and can cause an overdose if not taken carefully. Fentanyl is sold illegally in powder form or as eye and nasal drops. People with Fentanyl addiction often mix it with heroin or cocaine for heightened pleasure. Avoid splitting, chewing, or crushing the Fentanyl tablets. If you feel any discomfort, please seek medical help immediately. A fentanyl overdose can cause hypoxia, a condition where an adequate amount of oxygen fails to reach the brain, causing coma or death. 

    What are the common street names for Fentanyl?

    Fentanyl is available illegally. It is sold under various street/slang names, such as:

    • Apache
    • China girl
    • China White
    • Dance Fever
    • Friend
    • Goodfella
    • Jackpot
    • Murder 8
    • TNT
    • Tango
    • Cash
    • Percopop
    • Shine
    • Serial Killer
    • Drop Dead

    What are the common Fentanyl side effects?

    The side effects of Fentanyl can vary from person to person. However, these common symptoms mentioned below are the most widely reported: 

    • Drowsiness
    • Confusion
    • Slowed breathing
    • Seizures
    • Headaches
    • Blurred vision
    • Constipation
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Itching
    • Euphoria
    • Weakness
    • Dry mouth
    • Decreased heart rate
    • Muscle stiffness
    • Lack of concentration

     What are the commercial names for Fentanyl?

    • Sublimaze
    • Durogesic
    • Duragesic
    • Fentanyl citrate
    • Lazanda
    • Nasalfent
    • Subsys
    • Actiq

    How to treat Fentanyl addiction?

    Fentanyl addiction can be treated in rehab or through professional counseling. The 12-step based process is often an effective method for overcoming addiction. This method is effective if your addiction level is low to moderate. However, for serious addiction issues, you may want to sign up for a rehab treatment as soon as you realize that you need help. Rehab can help you confront addiction safely and effectively without doing further harm to your health. Rehabs use modern medicines and methods to help you control drug cravings. Rehab treatment can be divided into three main parts: Detox, Therapy Sessions, and Aftercare.

    The detox session is the first step to control the addiction. Many, but not all people who opts for addiction treatment have to undergo detox first. Detox helps to remove all the traces of drugs from the body and prepare you to undergo further treatment. During detox, your dependency on drugs will be reduced by lowering the dosage, gradually; hence, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. But, you’ll be under observation all the time and will be assisted by medical professionals when such situations occur. 

    At the rehab center you can also have access to a balanced diet while getting enough sleep and exercising regularly, all of which helps reduce the pain and discomfort of detox. If you want a painless detox, you can opt for Rapid detox that takes much less time per session compared to conventional detox. Rapid detox uses medication to suppress the effect of the drug and to remove it from the system. During the session, patients are sedated so that they experience miminal discomfort.

    After the detox sessions are over, you usually have to undergo a few tests, after which you’ll be provided with a customized rehab program. Rehab programs combine individual and group counseling, various therapies, meditation, and other treatments which help patients overcome their addiction. The rehab program can last for a few weeks to a few months, depending on the condition of the patient.

    The final step of the rehab program is aftercare. Aftercare sessions are conducted to help avoid relapse in patients who have just completed their rehab program. Aftercare combines various activities, including therapy and gives guidance on how to control sudden cravings after overcoming addiction.

    What are the rehab options available for Fentanyl addiction?

    You can choose from two main types of rehab facilities, inpatient and outpatient, for your rehab treatment. You can consult with your doctor and ask them to recommend the best kind of rehab program for you.

    Inpatient rehab comes with a boarding facility for patients, where they can stay and get treated for their addiction issues. Inpatient rehab is often big enough to accommodate and handle large groups of people. The number of doctors and medical staff associated with inpatient rehab is also generally high. Inpatient rehab is usually recommended to people who have severe addiction issues and need round-the-clock care.

    Outpatient treatment can be a good choice for people who do not want to disrupt their daily lives while they go through treatment. Some outpatient treatment participants are new mothers, people with jobs, and students. Outpatient treatment doesn’t require people to stay in their facility and get their treatment. People can come just for their appointments and therapy or counseling sessions. 

    If you have the financial means, then you can also opt for luxury rehab. These rehabs allow people to undergo their addiction treatment in a private and luxurious location. You’ll find spas, coffee shops, salons, and swimming pools in luxury rehabs.

    How to find the best Fentanyl rehab near you?

    Finding a proper rehab can take you some time and effort. You should not hurry while choosing a rehab for you. If your rehab facility is good, your recovery may also be more effective and more worth the money spent. You can shortlist some rehabs and then try to select one based on the following factors.

    • Location

    Find a rehab that’s well connected to different parts of the city and has enough parking space so that your friends and family can drop by sometimes and spend time with you. You might want to ensure that the rehab is not located in a crowded or polluted area, but rather one situated in a peaceful and serene location.

    • Facilities

    Ensure that the rehab facility you choose has all the equipment and facilities required for your rehab treatment. Check if they use the latest methodologies and techniques to treat addiction patients.

    • Services

    Find a rehab that offers quality service and gives proper attention and care to its patients. See if they offer adequate aftercare sessions once the rehab treatment is over.

    • Affordability

    It is usually better to find a rehab whose expenses can be covered under your medical insurance. This will help you to afford the treatment without falling into debt.

    • Reputation

    You can check the ratings and reviews of a rehab facility to educate yourself on their quality of services.

    Conclusion

    Addiction is a life-threatening issue that can be treated if proper measures are taken at the right time. Rehab treatment can prove very beneficial, especially if it is provided at an early stage of addiction. When you delay treatment, the addictive substances have that much more time to reak havoc on your body and your life.

    Mental illness is often closely related to the addiction. Mental illness can make a person suicidal or depressed. When a person experiences addiction and mental health issues together, it is known as dual diagnosis. These patients need extra care and guidance and should generally be kept under observation.

    Due to the negative image that society places on addicts, many are afraid to come forward and get help. When members of society are tolerant and try to understand the concerns, they are often more able to speak of their challenges openly and ask for support. Friends and family of addicts can often help by being very kind and gentle towards them and giving full support when they decide to go to rehab.

    The biggest downside of issues like addiction is educating people about its harmful effects. A lack of proper knowledge is partially responsible for the increasing rate of addiction among youths. They sometimes take drugs and alcohol for recreation or due to peer pressure, and then get addicted. Talking with children about the effects of drugs and alcohol can sometimes prevent them from trying these substances later on. Keeping prescription drugs out of their reach is a great way to reduce their access to these harmful drugs.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Top Rehab Options for Abstral Addiction

    Top Rehab Options for Abstral Addiction

    Questions about Abstral addiction? Use this handy guide to help you easily recognize the signs and symptoms.

    1. What is Abstral and What is it Used for?
    2. Other Names for Abstral
    3. How Abstral Abuse Occurs
    4. Abstral Rehab – How Do I Know if I Need it?
    5. The Risks of Delaying Abstral Rehab
    6. Abstral Withdrawal Side Effects and Detox
    7. Types of Treatment in Abstral Rehab
    8. Abstral Treatment – How to Choose the Best Rehab for You

    Abstral rehab is the best way to overcome addiction to this strong, dangerous opioid drug. Known generically as fentanyl, Abstral is a risky drug to misuse because of the high likelihood of becoming addicted and because overdosing is easy to do. An overdose on fentanyl can quickly be fatal.

    If you are abusing this drug or know someone else engaged in Abstral abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Any degree of misuse of fentanyl can quickly escalate or become fatal. And anyone abusing fentanyl can benefit from rehab that includes therapy and medical treatment. Reach out for help or offer your assistance to a loved one struggling with this awful drug.

    What is Abstral and What is it Used for?

    Abstral is a brand name for the generic opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which means it was designed and is made in laboratories and is derived from natural compounds found in the opium poppy. Like other opioids, it works in the brain to change the response to pain and is prescribed as a painkiller. 

    Unlike other opioids, like oxycodone or hydrocodone, Abstral and other fentanyl products are only approved for treating specific patients. Abstral is supposed to be restricted to cancer patients 18 years old or older who are already using opioids to manage pain. When these patients become tolerant to other opioids or experience breakthrough pain that is not controlled by these other drugs, they may be prescribed fentanyl.

    The reason Abstral is so restricted is that it is extremely potent. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, a natural opioid. It is also more potent than heroin, an illicit drug. Abstral is a tablet that is placed under the tongue to dissolve. Its potency can make Abstral very risky for anyone without some opioid tolerance. 

    Other Names for Abstral

    Abstral is just one brand name for fentanyl. Others include Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Onsolis, and Sublimaze. These are important medications for cancer patients living with severe pain, but Abstral and fentanyl are often sold and used illicitly. Some names for fentanyl and other opioids on the street include:

    • Captain Cody
    • Cody
    • Doors and Fours
    • Pancakes and Syrup
    • White Stuff
    • Pain Killer 
    • Apache
    • China Girl
    • China White
    • Friend
    • Goodfella
    • Dance Fever
    • Juice
    • Dillies

    How Abstral Abuse Occurs

    Abstral and other fentanyl products are Schedule II controlled substances. This is because they are highly susceptible to abuse. In addition to relieving pain, opioids like Abstral can induce euphoria, an intense high. Some people abuse Abstral because they want to get high, while others do so because they have become dependent on opioids and don’t feel normal or comfortable without them. 

    Abstral dependence can occur quickly because it is such a potent drug. Any misuse of fentanyl, from using it without a prescription to using more than prescribed or taking more frequent doses, can easily lead to addiction. Even people who are not misusing this drug, patients with a genuine need for pain relief, can become dependent and addicted. 

    Abstral Rehab – How Do I Know if I Need it?

    You don’t have to be addicted to this drug to benefit from or need Abstral rehabilitation. Rehab is treatment for a drug addiction, but any level of misuse may require treatment. If you have lost control to any degree over your use of opioids or are concerned about the health risks, reach out for help and get treatment. 

    If you aren’t sure if your behaviors or those of someone you care about constitute an addiction, ask these questions:

    • Do you crave fentanyl often?
    • Have you tried to cut back but found you couldn’t or failed often when trying?
    • Do you regularly end up using Abstral more often than you meant to or using larger doses than you had planned?
    • Has a lot of your time been taken up with trying to get Abstral, using it, and recovering from using it?
    • Have you had to give up other activities because of the time drug use takes up in your life?
    • Are you often failing to meet responsibilities because of Abstral?
    • Does use of Abstral cause relationship problems, which in turn do nothing to stop you using the drug?
    • Do you continue to use drugs even though they are causing health problems? Or making them worse?
    • Have you developed a tolerance to Abstral, needing higher doses or more frequent doses to get the desired effect?
    • Do you start to go through withdrawal when not using?

    These are the criteria that professionals use to diagnose an opioid addiction and are the symptoms of Abstral addiction. Answering yes to even just two of these questions may indicate that you have a substance use disorder. Abstral effects are dangerous enough that even a mild addiction warrants a trip to rehab to get help before it’s too late. 

    The Risks of Delaying Abstral Rehab

    There are a lot of very serious risks of using and misusing this dangerous drug, including the risk of more frequent and severe Abstral side effects. Even recommended use of fentanyl can cause side effects, but the more you misuse it, the greater the risks you will experience them. Side effects may include:

    • Drowsiness and sleepiness
    • Slowed, shallow breathing
    • Constipation
    • Nausea
    • Confusion
    • Headaches

    There are also more serious Abstral effects you put yourself at risk for by taking larger amounts and more frequent doses: heartbeat changes, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, hallucinations, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, rash, and seizures. 

    While the side effects can be uncomfortable or even present real health problems, an Abstral overdose is the most serious risk of all. This potent drug can quickly cause a fatal overdose. Signs include slowed breathing, shallow breaths or difficulty breathing, a lowered urge to breathe, unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness, confusion, and fainting. Emergency medical attention is essential in the case of an overdose; the opioid antidote Narcan can be administered to reverse the overdose. 

    Abstral Withdrawal Side Effects and Detox 

    Abstral withdrawal effects are another consequence of abusing and becoming addicted to fentanyl. As the drug leaves your system and your brain tries to adjust, you will be going through detox and withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal causes early, unpleasant symptoms like anxiety, difficulty sleeping, agitation, aches, runny nose, sweating, yawning, and tearing. 

    As detox continues into the later phases of withdrawal, you may also experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, and goosebumps. How long detox takes depends on the severity of your addiction and the last dose of Abstral you took. It can be very easy to relapse during this process, so don’t go it alone. Supervised detox is more comfortable and safer. 

    Withdrawal from fentanyl is not dangerous in itself. As uncomfortable as it is, it will not cause serious health problems. However, the big risk of trying to detox alone is relapse. And a relapse when you’re feeling this desperate for the drug could easily lead to an overdose. Always detox with some degree of supervision, if not with real medical care. 

    Types of Treatment in Abstral Rehab

    Abstral addiction requires treatment, and Abstral treatment can be effective if you get the right care. Detox is the first step, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it is enough. In order to have a successful recovery, you need long-term treatment that includes therapy and medical care. Therapies you can expect to benefit from in rehab include:

    • Behavioral therapies. These are therapies that focus on recognizing and changing problematic behaviors. A therapist will help you explore the reasons behind some of the choices you make, triggers for drug use, emotional awareness, and making positive and lasting changes. 
    • Trauma-focused therapies. Traumatic experiences often underlie drug abuse and addiction. A good treatment facility will evaluate your mental health and prescribe the appropriate treatments. If you have trauma in your past, you can benefit from a therapy that helps you face and reprocess those negative experiences. 
    • Motivational therapies. A type of therapy useful in treating drug addictions focuses on uncovering your internal motivations for making positive changes. It may involve goal-setting, reflection and mindfulness, and rewards for meeting milestones and avoiding relapse.

    The other important aspect of treatment for fentanyl addiction in rehab is medical care. Opioid addictions are among the few that can be managed effectively with prescription medications. Medical treatment must be used along with therapy for the best outcomes, though. 

    The kinds of drugs you may be prescribed to treat Abstral addiction include methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. The first two are used to manage cravings and withdrawal. They activate the same receptors as Abstral and keep you from going back to fentanyl. Naloxone blocks those receptors. If you are given a 30-day injection of naloxone, any attempt to use an opioid to get high will fail. You will get no effects from it. 

    Abstral Treatment – How to Choose the Best Rehab for You 

    The best Abstral rehab will be long-term, at least a few weeks, and will include both therapy and medical treatment. These are the most basic things you should look for in a rehab. Additionally, consider whether you need inpatient care, with the 24-hour supervision and safe, treatment-intensive environment, or whether you would benefit from being able to stay with family and go to treatment on an outpatient basis. 

    With a potent drug like Abstral, it may be safest to go to true rehab, a residential facility, for a few months. This gives you the chance to focus on your care and avoid relapse. But ultimately, the choice is a personal one and should be made with your own best interests in mind. 

    There are other factors to consider in your treatment choice. For instance, you want a treatment facility that will fully evaluate you on intake and treat you as an individual with unique needs. There is no single treatment plan for addiction that works for everyone, so you need a team of professionals with the flexibility to adapt plans for your needs, limitations, and abilities, as well as your preferences. 

    Abstral addiction help is available. You just need to ask for it. It can be scary to admit you have a problem and to submit to treatment, especially in a residential rehab. But doing so could save your life, or the life of someone you care about. Push for treatment, ask for help, and get the care you need to overcome this addiction. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Fentanyl Disguised As Oxycodone Seized In Ohio

    Fentanyl Disguised As Oxycodone Seized In Ohio

    Ohio officials are warning those who buy pills on the street to exercise caution.

    Authorities in Ohio are warning drug users to be extra cautious, after law enforcement in the state seized fentanyl that had been pressed into pills meant to resemble oxycodone, which were to be sold on the street. 

    The Community Overdose Action Team, which focuses on reducing opioid-related deaths in Montgomery County, Ohio, said in a statement reported by the Dayton Daily News that drug users need to realize the dangers of fentanyl. 

    “The Community Overdose Action Team reminds you that any illegal drug you purchase and use could contain fentanyl,” the statement read. “Fentanyl is a highly potent drug which greatly increases your chance of an overdose. It is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.” 

    The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Range Task Force and Dayton police also warned people that fentanyl is becoming widespread in Ohio’s drug supply.

    Christine Ton, media director for the sheriff’s office, said that the blue pills even have the markings of oxycodone. Some people get the pills thinking they’re buying Oxycontin, while others seek out the fentanyl pills for a powerful, cheap high. 

    “It is more potent than heroin and cheaper to buy,” Ton said.

    She added that the department seizes all varieties of drugs, not just opioids. “We routinely see meth, fentanyl, marijuana and are also running across cocaine. Crack and heroin are also located frequently.”

    Benjamin Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said that his office is aggressively going after fentanyl-related cases as the drug becomes more prevalent. 

    “We are prosecuting more and more fentanyl-related narcotics-trafficking cases, both in Dayton and district-wide,” he said. “Fentanyl and its analogs are incredibly dangerous and are at the heart of the overdoses and deaths plaguing our region.”

    Recently, The Washington Post reported that public health officials had pressured the Obama administration to declare fentanyl a national health emergency as far back as 2016, but the administration did not act. John P. Walters, who served as chief of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy between 2001 and 2009, said this likely contributed to the ever-increasing rate of fentanyl overdoses.

    “This is a massive institutional failure, and I don’t think people have come to grips with it,” said Walters. “This is like an absurd bad dream and we don’t know how to intervene or how to save lives.”

    Derek Maltz, former agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division in Washington, agreed that it was a missed opportunity to save lives. 

    “Fentanyl was killing people like we’d never seen before. A red light was going off, ding, ding, ding. This is something brand new. What the hell is going on? We needed a serious sense of urgency.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Are Police At Risk Of Overdose From Accidental Fentanyl Exposure?

    Are Police At Risk Of Overdose From Accidental Fentanyl Exposure?

    Medical professionals discuss the likelihood of first responders overdosing from accidental fentanyl exposure.

    Since fentanyl use has become widespread, there have been many reports of first responders overdosing accidentally through exposure at emergency calls. The Drug Enforcement Administration even issued an officer safety alert urging first responders to be careful to avoid exposure.

    However, medical professionals say the risk of accidental overdose to first responders is vastly overstated. 

    Toronto-based doctor David Juurlink, a researcher at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said that police officers and other first responders overdosing is highly unlikely.

    “I would say it’s extraordinarily improbable that a first responder would be poisoned by an ultra-potent opioid,” he told The New York Times. “I don’t say it can’t happen. But for it to happen would require extraordinary circumstances, and those extraordinary circumstances would be very hard to achieve.”

    Still, officers and other first responders are regularly warned about the dangers of being exposed to even trace amounts of synthetic opioids. Some people are concerned that being overly cautious will cause first responders to hold back on potentially life-saving treatments for people who call 911, in much the same way some doctors were afraid to treat HIV patients during the AIDS epidemic. 

    At Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Boston, emergency room doctor Jeremy S. Faust, has a message for first responders.

    “I want to tell first responders, Look, you’re safe,” Faust said. “You can touch these people. You can interact with them. You can go on and do the heroic lifesaving work that you do for anyone else.”

    Despite the fact that an overdose from accidental exposure is very unlikely, police officers sometimes report feeling symptoms of overdose when they respond to opioid-related calls. Scottie Wightman, a Kentucky emergency medical technician, went unresponsive after one call. He was treated with naloxone, but a drug test later showed there were no drugs in his system. These symptoms are essentially a placebo effect, experts say. 

    Still, many people have been charged with crimes after calling 911 for fentanyl-related emergencies. Eric Weil, of New Hampshire, called police when a person staying in his house overdosed. Weil found fentanyl in his house, and after handling it, blew the drug off his hands.

    Police later said that Weil blew “a large cloud” toward them. He was charged with reckless conduct, the same charge he could get for brandishing a gun. He was convicted, but the verdict was eventually overturned. Still, Weil said he will not be calling 911 again. 

    “If ever I go into a situation where somebody’s O.D.-ing, I’m going to stand over them and watch them die,” he said. “If they say, why didn’t I call? Are you out of your mind? The last time I called somebody, I got a Class B felony.”

    Still, the police chief in the town where Weil was charged said that he needs to be proactive about protecting officers from synthetic opioids. 

    “I never want to be in a position where I have to go see a family member, a wife, kids, and explain to them why their father or husband is not coming home that evening, or ever, for that matter,” he said. “Everybody knows it’s a dangerous substance.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "Dilbert" Creator Addresses Son’s Apparent Fentanyl Overdose

    "Dilbert" Creator Addresses Son’s Apparent Fentanyl Overdose

    “If you don’t have any personal experience with opioid addiction, it doesn’t look like anything else you’ve ever seen,” Adams said.

    Cartoonist Scott Adams is grieving the loss of his stepson, who died of an apparent fentanyl overdose last weekend. On a live video stream Monday, Adams described the moment he found out about 18-year-old Justin’s death and the path that led his son to his demise.

    “Yesterday I got a call… from my ex-wife who told me that my stepson, the little boy that I raised from the age of two, was dead,” said Adams, better known as the creator of the Dilbert comic strip.

    “He died last night… in his bed from what appears to be a fentanyl overdose. I got to watch my dead, blue, bloated son taken out on a stretcher in front of his mother and biological father.”

    Justin had a fentanyl patch on his arm, Adams said. “Fentanyl probably killed my son yesterday.”

    Justin had struggled with his drug use for years. “We weren’t surprised, because he’d had a long battle with addiction since he was 14,” said Adams.

    A traumatic injury as a young man had changed him completely. “He had a very bad head injury when he was 14 from a bicycle accident. His behavior changed after the accident,” said Adams. “He sort of lost his ability to make good decisions… He lost his impulse control, he lost his fear.”

    His family couldn’t help him, Adams said, especially because was never ready to seek help. “He never wanted to get better. From the time he started doing drugs, he wanted to do more drugs and that’s all he wanted.”

    Adams described what it’s like to see a loved one lost in addiction. “If you don’t have any personal experience with opioid addiction, it doesn’t look like anything else you’ve ever seen,” he said in the emotional live stream. “It turns people into walking zombies who quite clearly are not in their own mind and are not in control of their actions.”

    Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical painkiller said to be 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Because of its high potency and the growing demand for opioids, an illicit market for fentanyl has emerged. It is said to have fueled the rise in opioid-related deaths over the years.

    In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 63,632 drug overdose deaths in the U.S.—42,249 of them involved prescription and illicit opioids, including fentanyl.

    Adams, who’s made a name for himself as a conservative pundit of some sort, goes on to “call for [the] execution” of the people who according to the U.S. government are to blame for the fentanyl crisis—Chinese suppliers.

    Adams stoically explains that executing “Chinese executives” of companies who produce and distribute illicit fentanyl “would be a great step.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Police Chief Allegedly Overdosed On Drugs Stolen From Evidence Room

    Police Chief Allegedly Overdosed On Drugs Stolen From Evidence Room

    The 35-year-old died two months after being appointed part-time police chief.

    An Ohio police chief who died in May of a fentanyl overdose allegedly swiped the drugs from his own department’s evidence room, according to local reports. 

    Kirkersville Police Chief James Hughes had only been on the job two months when he was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his Reynoldsburg home. Nearby, officials said, were three syringes—one empty and two filled with fentanyl. Authorities also recovered a bag that tested positive for cocaine. 

    The part-time police chief died a short time later, and in July the coroner officially deemed the cause of death a fentanyl overdose, according to the Newark Advocate.

    The larger Reynoldsburg Police Department investigated the fatality, and last week Lt. Ron Wright revealed where he apparently got the fatal dose: the village police evidence room. 

    “There was packaging that indicated that he was taking controlled substances from there,” said Wright, according to the Advocate. It’s not clear if that could impact any ongoing cases. 

    The 35-year-old was appointed to the 500-person village’s 20-hour-per-week job as top cop on March 13, during a two-minute council meeting. Almost a year earlier, then-chief Eric DiSario was shot to death in the line of duty during an incident at a local nursing home, according to WSYX. His replacement, Jeff Finley, resigned abruptly in early March, citing disagreements with the mayor. 

    Though village council members didn’t offer any comment to the local media on it, Hughes had a troubled past before his appointment as chief. 

    During the 14 months he previously worked at the local sheriff’s office, internal affairs investigated him three times. Once, he resigned after six months, though he was later rehired working at the jail. 

    “I believe that Deputy Hughes needs to think before he acts,” one supervisor wrote in a 2012 performance evaluation, according to the Newark paper. “Deputy Hughes is known to make bad decisions on and off duty.”

    A few months later, Hughes notched up a misdemeanor conviction for a drunken incident at a nearby fast food restaurant when he spit at a drive-through worker and called her a “bitch.” 

    Once Reynoldsburg police wrap up their investigation of the chief’s death, they’ll likely forward the case to state authorities, Wright said. 

    “It’s kind of gone beyond our level. You’re talking about another agency’s property room,” he said. “We think the state should probably intervene.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Video: Activist Pours Fentanyl On Hands To Dispel Exposure Myth

    Video: Activist Pours Fentanyl On Hands To Dispel Exposure Myth

    Chad Sabora performed the experiment to reassure first responders that may be reluctant to perform CPR in the early moments of an overdose.

    Harm reduction experts are pushing back on what they believe is a dangerous myth circulating among emergency responders and the general public.

    Illicit fentanyl and its analogues are increasingly contaminating batches of heroin sold on the street, and contributing to skyrocketing overdose rates. Thanks to naloxone, people experiencing an opioid-related overdose have a fighting chance—if first responders get to them in time.

    There is a growing belief, however, that risk of exposure to these powerful synthetic opioids is so high that mere contact with an overdose victim’s sweat—or even inhaling a small amount of powder—is enough for a potentially fatal amount of the drug to get into the bloodstream.

    If true, first responders fearing exposure might be reluctant to perform CPR during the critical early moments of an overdose, so Chad Sabora, Executive Director of the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Advocacy (Mo Networks), decided to perform an experiment to reassure them.

    Sabora, in a video he posted on Facebook, took a bag of street heroin that he confirmed through a strip test contained acetyl fentanyl and carfentanil, poured the powder in his hand and waited.

    Moments later, the naloxone standing nearby stayed in its box, unused, and Sabora appeared to be exhibiting no signs of an overdose.

    “[This is] the same dope that has caused ‘overdoses’ in first responders,” Sabora told The Fix. He obtained the tainted batch from one of the participants of Mo Network’s syringe exchange and naloxone distribution programs, known as a “second-tier exchange,” where an active heroin user brings sterile needles and overdose reversal kits to hand out on the street.

    Sabora is the first person to attempt to deliberately overdose in order to show that the risk to first responders may be an overblown and even dangerous myth. As a former prosecutor and someone in long term recovery himself, Sabora brings a unique perspective to his work in advocacy.

    “This belief is validating people that don’t want to rescue users. I used to be in law enforcement, I know it’s a very difficult job, but we have to bring balance through education and awareness while still respecting the job they’re doing,” he said.

    Last spring, journalist and The Fix contributor Zachary Siegel, dedicated the entire first episode of Narcotica, a podcast he co-hosts, to dispelling the myth that fentanyl or its analogues can cause an overdose through skin absorption.

    “I spent weeks researching this phenomenon for [the episode]. Every toxicologist, pharmacist, physician, and researcher I spoke with said hands down, illicit powdered fentanyl is not skin-soluble,” Siegel tweeted.

    A lethal dose for fentanyl in humans is around 3 milligrams, so appropriate precautions are certainly recommended for anyone who may come in contact with the drug.

    But in a position statement published in the journal Clinical Toxicology by the American College of Medical Toxicology and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, the task force authors concluded that for inhalation exposure risk, “At the highest airborne concentration… an unprotected individual would require nearly 200 minutes of exposure to reach a dose of 100 mcg of fentanyl.”

    And for dermal exposure risk, “it is very unlikely that small, unintentional skin exposures to… [fentanyl] powder would cause significant opioid toxicity…”

    Sabora hopes the video will make an impact, but he admits, “there’s not much more I can do, but between myself, writers like [Siegel], and a lot of others out there, we’ll keep doing our best to hammer the truth home.”

    View the original article at thefix.com