Fentanyl Addiction (Actiq®, Duragesic®, Sublimaze®)

It is important that during your drug intervention you understand personally the lifestyles involved in the various drugs of choice. Although each of our interventionists at Intervention Services is fully trained to handle each of the majority of drugs being abused in our culture today, fine-tuning a drug intervention by choosing an interventionist who has personally recovered from the drugs your loved one is abusing can also tip the scales from a chaotic intervention on an unwilling addict, to an intervention on someone who feels that you have brought someone out who truly understands their life.

More Information About Specific Types of Drug Interventions:

• Bath Salts Intervention
• Benzodiazepine Intervention
• Cocaine intervention
• Crack Intervention
• Crystal Meth Intervention
• Huffing Intervention
• Marijuana Intervention
• Opiate Intervention
• Prescription Pill Intervention

A Drug Intervention vs. an Alcohol Intervention

Alcohol is technically a drug, however, most people put alcohol into its own category. Refer to an alcoholic as a drug addict and see the reaction. Due to the legality and social acceptability of alcohol we generally refer to those addicted to mood altering substances as either an “alcoholic” or a “drug addict”. Also, drug users are often more dishonest than an alcohol abuser. Because many drugs are often illegal, a drug user begins his or her drug use in a condition of lying, criminality, or dishonesty. An alcohol user is usually the opposite, claiming such things as “everyone drinks”. In dealing with a drug addict we generally have two types of people needing a drug intervention, each of which is dealt with in a different way, a binge user and a daily or maintenance user of drugs.

A Drug Intervention on Binge Users

The binge user is someone who uses drugs periodically after which each successive use usually become more pronounced. Performing a drug intervention on a binge user is generally an issue of timing. Depending on the drug involved, sometimes it is best to wait until after the binge. To understand more about a specific drug, please select from the links listed below to comprehend how each drug intervention is different. Again, a lot of the structure of drug intervention on a binge user can be dependent on the types of drugs involved. When intervening on a binge user, it is usually not as simple as just convincing them to stop using…but teaching them how to stay stopped.

Drug Intervention for Daily Users

The daily user is someone who uses drugs every day in order to maintain their habit. As is the case with the binge user, a drug intervention on a daily user can also be handled differently depending on the drug involved. To understand this, please chose one of the specific drugs listed below in order to best comprehend how each drug intervention is different. Again, a drug intervention on a daily user is often dependent on the types of drugs involved.

The Side Effects of Fentanyl

With its widespread use, physicians were able to notice the negative aspects of the drug. Because it has a short period before it wears off, frequent doses of fentanyl have to be administered. This increases the chances of addiction. Compared to other opioid drugs, fentanyl is thought to be one of the safest. But all members of this category have the potential to be dangerous. Along with the risk of addiction, this agent also has a strong sedative effect. This can result in several systems in the body becoming depressed in their functioning. Breathing can become shallow and difficult. Blood pressure can become much lower and cause dizziness or even unconsciousness. Mental functions can also slow down. The drug has even been linked to increases in mental depression.

Because of these side effects, persons with any pre-existing conditions like hypotension, respiratory illnesses, or depression cannot use this medication. It can also become dangerous if mixed with any other kind of sedative. There are occasional problems with transdermal patches not working properly. They can release the drug too quickly. Another downside to the drug, related to its addictive quality, is withdrawal if its use is ended abruptly.

As in the case of other prescription drugs, this one has found its way into illicit markets. At first, the illegal use of fentanyl primarily consisted of patches being stolen or smuggled out of legal supplies. Drug users would cut the patches up into smaller pieces which are then eaten. Another favorite technique was to roll the patch into a tube and smoke it simply. Pharmaceutical companies that produce the patches have re-engineered them to make quick absorption through these techniques harder. The gel reservoir has been replaced by a plastic matrix that contains the medication.