Do Fentanyl Addicts Recover?

A Personal Story and Statistics on Recovery from Fentanyl

The rise of fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths has become a very scary and unfortunate reality in this country. Fentanyl has become a popular cutting agent in many opiates and has led to countless preventable deaths.

Many of these deaths are a result of drug users ingesting fentanyl without knowing it, though ‘fetty’ has also become popular and requested by addicts in its own right.

But, if you or a loved one are struggling, or you see a friend that has picked up opioids and just isn’t the same, the crucial question is: do fentanyl addicts recover?

Now imagine being addicted to a drug like that. A drug that can easily kill you if you do too much of it. You are gambling with your life every time you do it. It’s one of the most dangerous addictions possible.

So with that being said, is a fentanyl addiction possible to recover from? It absolutely is, but it takes a lot of work and dedication to get clean.

How Do Addicts Recover From Substance Abuse?

I checked myself into Purpose Healing Center at the height of my fentanyl addiction. I had no idea what to expect. My recovery team made it clear that I needed to completely change my lifestyle to avoid falling back into fentanyl abuse.

Beyond that, I had to have hope for the future. A future free of drug abuse. Hope comes from within. It can be tough to conjure sometimes, but it is right there within you.

Substance abuse doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can find themselves suffering from a serious drug addiction. Unfortunately, a lot of addicts never reach a place where they want to get help. It’s difficult to witness, but the only thing you can really do is focus on your own recovery. If you do that, you are off to a good start.

Keep reading to learn what you can do to overcome a fentanyl addiction.

The Sad World Of Drug Abuse

I began using opiates like Percocet and Oxycodone in high school. By the time I graduated, I had a full-blown opioid use disorder. I was one of the unfortunate victims of the opiate epidemic. Opiates became more and more available as I grew up, and I found myself deep into addiction before the time I was legally considered an adult.

At some point in my twenties, I made the switch to fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is fifty to one hundred times stronger than any other opioid. I got tired of spending hundreds of dollars on Percocet. I found fentanyl to not only be cheaper, but much stronger. As you go deeper and deeper into opioid use disorder, it takes more and more of the drug. to feel the effects.

Struggling Through Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioid withdrawal is tough enough, but fentanyl withdrawal takes it to a whole new level. Being addicted to opioids means that you are in a constant cycle of needing more of the drug just to feel normal. Eventually, it stops being about just getting high.

You need the drug so you don’t get sick. Fentanyl withdrawal is like any other opioid withdrawal, just more intense. You will rob a bank in order to not feel the pain of withdrawal. People have done it. I did plenty of stealing and lying so I didn’t have to feel those effects. It is an exhausting lifestyle.

Common fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and body aches, and involuntary muscle movements. These are just a few of the side effects of fentanyl addiction, and the reason I made it my number one priority to always have fentanyl readily available. There were plenty of times when I didn’t have it, and I suffered greatly.

What Does The Fentanyl Withdrawal Timeline Look Like?

Detox for fentanyl is the first step, and it might be the hardest one. I’ve experienced detox on many occasions, so by the time I arrived at Purpose Healing Center I was used to it. Luckily for me, addiction medicine helped temper the fentanyl withdrawal symptoms.

My team at Purpose knew that the level of my addiction required medical supervision, and they took great care of me throughout my time at their addiction treatment programs.

During the initial detox, which lasts around twenty-four hours, you deal with a lot of anxiety and restlessness. Your brain doesn’t know how to handle it. The second and third day typically revolves around a lot of mood swings and body pain. Insomnia is also common during the first few days. You can’t even sleep it off.

By the end of the first week, you will have dealt with a lot of physical and mental pain. I know it sounds scary, and a lot of addicts avoid getting clean because of this discomfort. Just know that if you are lucky enough to go to a place like Purpose Healing Center, you will be taken good care of.

The Mental Game Of Opioid Use Disorder

When you are that physically addicted to a drug like fentanyl, you can’t imagine your life without it. The idea of addiction treatment is impossible to imagine. It’s something that isn’t attainable, and a lot of addicts are okay with that.

One thing I try to stress to addicts now that I am clean is it is never impossible. It might feel like it, but this is part of the mental game of opioid use disorder.

When you’re an addict, your brain gets used to the drugs and can’t function properly without them. Drug abuse increases the production of dopamine to the maximum level. Once your brain is depleted of dopamine, the mental crash is brutal.

It has a big effect on you physically as well. Not only do you feel depressed and moody, but your body aches are so bad that you would rather die than go through it.

Getting The Correct Addiction Treatment for Opioids is (Really) Important

A lot of fentanyl addicts seek sobriety following an opioid overdose. The opioid withdrawal often leads them right back to their addiction. I had to try it on my own a few times before finally seeking treatment in a facility.

Quitting cold turkey from fentanyl addiction is extremely tough. Substance abuse treatment is often the only way to properly get clean.

Addiction medicine is often required for opioid addicts. Many opioid addicts get on treatment programs that include drugs like Suboxone and methadone. Other drugs such as a partial opioid agonist serve a similar purpose. These opioid agonists help temper the cravings while giving the brain a small amount of opioids to avoid full-on withdrawal.

Overcoming Substance Abuse Once And For All

When I left Purpose Healing Center, I was very nervous about my future. Addiction treatment taught me that a lot of what leads addicts to relapse is a lack of self-control. Having a certain amount of self-control starts with having a good head on your shoulders. This is only possible when you focus on positively managing your mental health.

I still attend group meetings and talk to people about what I went through. I see a therapist and try to do a little bit every day to get my mind right. It’s a practice, and it requires work. While the work can be hard, the rewards are worth it. I am as healthy as I’ve ever been, and have a wonderful support system in place. That didn’t happen without a bit of blood, sweat, and tears.

Surviving The Opioid Epidemic – And Coming Back Stronger – Is Possible

You don’t have to be another statistic. You don’t have to lose your life to a drug that doesn’t serve you. Substance use disorder is difficult to overcome, but it isn’t impossible.

There are so many success stories in the world of recovery. You may not hear of them all the time, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

Achieve Recovery and a New Way of Life at Purpose Now

Purpose Healing Center helped me get my life back, and I owe a lot of what I have now to their help.

Despite recognizing the help they provided, I also know that there was a lot of self-work involved. I gave myself over to addiction treatment, and I put in the time and effort to get what so many others have gotten.

Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on doing one thing today that will help you overcome your addiction. Recovery really isn’t that complicated. The way that we react and live our lives is what complicates things. If you make sobriety your main priority, you can achieve it. If I can do it, you can too.