Fentanyl is one of the most devastating drugs. Though it is an approved prescription-strength painkiller, it is highly regulated because it has a high risk of causing addiction and dependency.
It is one of the most potent opioid drugs, where even a small amount of the substance can trigger a fatal overdose. When taking it over a period of time, it changes brain activity, altering both the way the brain is structured and how it processes information.
You may know how damaging fentanyl addiction can be. But how does treatment turn things around? With effective fentanyl addiction treatment, your brain starts to heal, re-learning how to function without the substance and, ultimately, becoming resilient.
How Fentanyl Changes the Brain
To understand how treatment works, we first need to consider how fentanyl changes the function of the brain. Fentanyl is an opioid that impacts the opioid receptors in the brain. Here’s a look at what happens:
- Fentanyl binds to the opioid receptors. These receptors are located throughout your brain and control emotions, both good and bad.
- Receptors produce dopamine. By activating the receptors, they start to produce dopamine, a feel-good hormone. Dopamine in the brain’s reward center is what makes you feel pleasure and relaxation.
As this happens, your brain learns that fentanyl makes you feel good since the brain is wired to seek out what creates pleasure. The more you use the substance, the more the brain learns this behavior, and the bigger and more powerful your cravings are.
Addiction forms when you have a compulsive need to seek out and use fentanyl, even though you know it carries a high risk of negative consequences. Brain function itself can change so much so that your life becomes centered around seeking more access to the drug. When you don’t have access, you may feel both emotional and physical pain in the form of intense cravings.
How Fentanyl Addiction Treatment Works
Fentanyl addiction treatment is often a multi-step process. The goal is not just to stop using the substance and control cravings. Rather, the objective is to teach the brain that fentanyl is not necessary or a “good” thing. There are several steps most people need for treatment.
Detoxification
The most important and often first step is to rid the body of the presence of fentanyl. This must be done in a safe environment, which is why we offer a medically monitored detox program. This process allows your brain to re-learn to function without the presence of the drug. However, because just stopping can be painful and even unsafe in some situations, your treatment team will monitor your health throughout the process.
Medications Are Available
There are some medications that we may suggest as a component of your treatment process. Medications help to minimize the discomfort of withdrawal, which also ensures that you are not struggling with intense pain.
Some medications may be recommended to treat opioid use disorder because they normalize the function of the brain’s chemistry. This includes blocking the euphoric effects that fentanyl creates. By blocking those effects, the brain stops feeling that pleasure it is seeking, and, like learning to use it, the brain learns that fentanyl doesn’t offer the pleasure desired.
Inpatient Treatment
Most people with fentanyl addiction require inpatient addiction treatment. It’s a process that allows you to remain safe and protected while you work through the intensity of your addiction. During inpatient treatment at Iron Bridge, we’ll provide you with access to some incredible resources. Our residential treatment resources are individualized treatment plans meant to provide you with the specific support you need, such as:
- A stable, routine living environment where you’ll have ample support for your physical, emotional, and mental health needs.
- Holistic treatment, which will include strategies such as individual counseling, group therapy, and fitness-focused care.
- Whole-body care, including yoga and meditation work.
- Family therapy to help your loved ones learn how to help and support you
- Integrated treatment for those with co-occurring disorders
You’ll be surrounded by people who understand and are facing many of the same struggles you are. Most importantly, you’ll be treated with respect and given tools to encourage you to explore a life without drugs.
All of these treatment tools help your brain to normalize its function again. Through time and work, you’ll also overcome challenges related to co-occurring disorders, past trauma, and physical ailments. For many people, it is the combination of these strategies that encourages full healing.
You Can Get Started With Iron Bridge Today
At Iron Bridge Recovery Center, we treat your addiction in a way that fits your needs. Learn how fentanyl addiction treatment can strengthen your brain’s function and improve your life. Contact us now to learn more.
