Common Signs of Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than morphine. While legal in the U.S., it has a very narrow range of accepted medical uses. From May 2020 to April 2021, 64% of the more than 100,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl¹. Fentanyl addiction treatment is your best option if you find you’ve become addicted.

The majority of heroin, especially here in the Needham area, contains fentanyl. Whether it has been legally prescribed by a doctor or added to heroin bought from a dealer, fentanyl is the most dangerous drug in the opioid epidemic. Trying to confront someone with a fentanyl addiction usually fails because people who are addicted to fentanyl really believe that the drug is saving their lives. A loved one may lie or lash out at your effort to get them some help.

It’s important that you recognize the signs of fentanyl abuse so that you can encourage a loved one to seek treatment at Greater Boston Addiction Centers by calling 877.920.6583.

Fentanyl and Heroin Drug Paraphernalia

Seeing heroin- and fentanyl-related drug paraphernalia is a huge red flag that a loved one may be experiencing chemical dependency. People typically take fentanyl by smoking, snorting, or injecting it; common paraphernalia you may find include:

• Tinfoil
• Plates in strange places
• Burnt spoons
• Syringes

You may see needle marks on a person’s arms or other parts of their body. Injecting heroin and fentanyl causes it to bypass the stomach and liver. Because it doesn’t have to be filtered through your organs, it breaks down more quickly into morphine, a powerful opiate.

Personal Hygiene and Fentanyl Addiction Don’t Mix

When you’re obsessed with using fentanyl, heroin, or other opioids, you often stop caring about how you look. You may notice a loved one going for days in the same clothes or failing to brush their teeth. They may have sores on their skin from picking at it or red and watery eyes. Often, people with addiction problems will stop caring about their physical appearance altogether. That lack of care may lead to body odor, skin rashes due to lack of bathing, and dental issues with their teeth and gums as well as other health problems.

Sacrificing Other Activities Due to Fentanyl Addiction

Drug addiction makes everything else in your life seem unimportant. It doesn’t matter how well you were doing in school or how well your career is going. People in the depths of heroin abuse tend to push everything else to the side. Your loved one may start having performance issues at work. They may stop going entirely and end up losing their job.

Fentanyl Withdrawal Is Awful

If your loved one cannot find more fentanyl to support their drug addiction, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. Medication-assisted treatment can provide some relief. Signs of heroin and fentanyl withdrawal include:

• Depression
• Heroin cravings
• Body aches
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Nausea

Having withdrawal symptoms when you can’t get more fentanyl is an obvious sign that your loved one may need heroin addiction treatment.

Contact GBAC for Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love struggles with fentanyl abuse, you may benefit from getting treatment at Greater Boston Addiction Centers. They have therapies and programs that can help you maintain your sobriety while gaining a deeper understanding of your drug addiction. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Knowing you have someone in your corner, rooting for your success can be vital in helping people stay on track. Greater Boston Addiction Centers also aids individuals dealing with:

• Alcohol addiction
• Opioid addiction
• Meth addiction
• Prescription drug addiction
• Cocaine addiction

Fentanyl abuse becomes a slippery slope that can cost you everything. If you or a loved one are ready to stop letting drug addiction control your life, call Greater Boston Addiction Centers at 877.920.6583.

Footnotes

¹ National Institute on Drug Abuse – “What is Fentanyl?”