The drug known as fentanyl is increasingly causing addiction and overdose concerns in Colorado communities. In 2018, a total of 17 people overdosed on fentanyl in Denver. According to the city medical examiner’s office, that number multiplied seven times in just two years to an astounding 119 lives lost in 2020, as reported in The Colorado Sun (February 2021). Statewide, overdoses have doubled from 2019 to 2020.
Drug spread is mainly tied to distribution routes. With major intersections meeting near Denver, the city has become a prime hub for a northward-driven flow from the Mexican border. That’s why Northpoint Colorado now provides inpatient and outpatient support to reduce fentanyl addiction, overdose, and death across the state. Fentanyl treatment and a fentanyl treatment program can help.
If you or someone in your life is using fentanyl, call Northpoint Colorado now. Our Loveland clinic provides safe and effective fentanyl treatment. Get an assessment and start enrollment at our substance use treatment center by calling us now at 888.231.1281.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed for pain management. Its name brands include Sublimaze®, Duragesic®, and Actiq®. Like OxyContin and other opioids, fentanyl is highly addictive and frequently abused. Also, like OxyContin statistics of overdose deaths related to misuse and prescription use are misreported and often unknown. When most opioids enter the bloodstream, they convert to morphine. The popular hospital-grade painkiller stops pain receptors and provides the body with a rush of dopamine. Fentanyl is 50 to 100x more powerful than morphine.
Unfortunately, increased recreational fentanyl use stems from decreased access to heroin and prescription opioids. In many cases, fentanyl can be more deadly than heroin, especially for frequent heroin users.
Today, there is both prescription and street fentanyl. Like other illicit drugs, street fentanyl is often laced with other drugs and unidentified binders. This can lead to overdose, death, or other health complications. It can also make fentanyl more addictive. Common street names include:
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Fentanyl’s Effects and Dangers
Fentanyl comes in patches, drops, lozenges, and pills. People might inject fentanyl as a heroin replacement. Like other opioids, it provides an immediate rush of dopamine and mind-altering effects. Side effects include:
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- Like with other opioids, addiction and overdose are common. The more a person uses fentanyl, the higher their tolerance becomes. This means that people need higher doses to achieve the same effects. This can quickly lead to addiction and overdose. With all opioid addiction, a person’s brain undergoes chemistry changes that can take years to repair after detox and recovery.
Also, it can be impossible to quit using fentanyl without medically assisted support. Medical intervention is highly successful for opioid recovery. Medically administered medications can help people safely recover from opioid addiction without experiencing harmful withdrawal, drug cravings, and other adverse effects.
Benefits of Fentanyl Addiction Treatment
Northpoint Colorado offers inpatient and outpatient support for those struggling with fentanyl addiction. We understand that opioid withdrawal can be painful and dangerous. That’s why our team of certified substance abuse experts creates tailored treatment plans to meet each patient’s needs. Our services include:
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- We also provide medical care for mental health issues co-occurring with fentanyl addiction. We understand that addiction is a disease and want to ensure you have access to the resources you need for lasting recovery.
Our Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in Loveland, Colorado
At Northpoint Colorado, we’ve seen the effects of fentanyl on our community first hand. Unfortunately, Denver has become a hub for street fentanyl trade. Many fentanyl users don’t want to keep using this substance. However, quitting on sheer willpower alone is often impossible with opioids. Our Loveland clinic provides intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), and 28-day residential detox treatments to give Coloradans the support they need to recover from fentanyl and other opioids.
Our programs use a recovery plan to cleanse, understand, and implement tools from recovery into daily life. Our fentanyl treatment begins with a residential detox. During this time, patients receive 24/7 medical supervision, medically assisted detox, and the support they need.
The next step focuses on understanding addiction triggers, unresolved trauma, and mental health. Studies show half of people struggling with addiction have mood disorders. We aim for diagnosis at the forefront of our treatment programs to help people identify, diagnose, and treat anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and other co-occurring disorders. Our patients go through CBT, the leading behavioral therapy for addiction treatment. CBT helps people reframe belief systems, understand emotions, and change their behavior. This gradual, evidence-based therapy provides patients with individualized care that really works.
After a 28-day residential stay, many patients transition into our IOP or PHP programs. These programs allow patients to sleep at home while spending several hours a day in the clinic. This can ease transition stress, CBT integration, and help people reconnect with loved ones. We even have virtual IOP programs for addiction support without leaving home!
Comprehensive Fentanyl Addiction Treatment for Colorado at Northpoint
At Northpoint Colorado, our goal is to reduce addiction, overdose, and addiction-related death across Colorado. Our accessible programs can help people in the greater Denver metro area and northern Colorado. With convenient assessments, same-day enrollment, and flexible programs, we’re here to help Colorado thrive. Call us now at 888.231.1281 to get started or fill out our online form.