Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

Fentanyl Addiction Treatment Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is the leading driver of the opioid crisis in the United States. People struggling with fentanyl addiction can seek high-quality, evidence-based treatment at Rubicon Recovery Center. We provide outpatient addiction programs for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Learn more about fentanyl and our fentanyl addiction treatment available near you in Watchung, NJ.

Key Takeaways

• Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl addiction leads to compulsive use despite negative or harmful effects.
• Fentanyl addiction can result in physical, behavioral, and psychological symptoms, such as social isolation, secrecy, drowsiness, slurred speech, cravings, anxiety, and more.
• Diagnosing fentanyl addiction involves a comprehensive clinical assessment that often includes physical exams, lab tests, psychological evaluations, and comparison of symptoms to standardized criteria.
• Treating fentanyl addiction typically involves medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which combines specialized medications, such as methadone and naltrexone, with behavioral therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide three levels of outpatient fentanyl addiction treatment programs that feature personalized treatment plans and a holistic approach to care.

Understanding Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It was traditionally used in medical settings to manage pain or as an anesthetic. However, its high potency, along with its easy manufacturing and affordability, has made it a popular street drug that is illegally manufactured.

Fentanyl can be snorted, smoked, taken orally by pill or tablet, or given transdermally through a patch. It is also often mixed with other substances like cocaine, heroin, and counterfeit prescription pills, often without the user knowing. Since it’s so potent, even a tiny amount can lead to overdose or death.

Fentanyl can give users effects like pain relief, relaxation, and sedation, which many people seek. However, consistent use can also result in changes in brain activity, making people continue to use fentanyl despite negative effects on their family, relationships, career, and other areas of life. This is known as fentanyl addiction. Fentanyl addiction can also cause people to use higher doses of fentanyl to get the desired effects, experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using fentanyl, or spend excessive amounts of time trying to get or use fentanyl. Professional treatment is the best chance to get sober and sustain recovery long-term.

Prevalence of Fentanyl Addiction

The opioid epidemic is an ongoing public health crisis in the United States that has resulted in more than 800,000 overdose deaths. Although the first 2 waves were caused by the overprescribing of opioid painkillers and heroin use, the current wave is characterized by synthetic opioids like fentanyl. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), nearly 73,000 people in the U.S. died from a fentanyl overdose in 2023.

NCDAS also reports that 69.3% of all overdose deaths are attributed to synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. In New Jersey, fentanyl is also a major problem. NCDAS notes that synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are involved in 93.4% of all opioid overdose deaths in the state, highlighting their prevalence and danger.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction?

When first ingested, fentanyl causes short-term pain-relieving and relaxing effects. However, when someone is addicted to fentanyl and uses it compulsively, other signs and symptoms may appear that indicate a substance use problem. These include:

• Behavioral symptoms, such as extreme lethargy, slurred speech, isolation, and secrecy
• Physical symptoms, including pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness
• Psychological symptoms, such as cravings, anxiety, confusion, and paranoia

Fentanyl also has harmful longer-term effects, which include confusion, nausea, visual disturbances, constipation, muscle stiffness, and more. Fentanyl also affects the area of the brain that controls breathing. When a person overdoses on fentanyl, their breathing can slow excessively and even stop. Other signs of a fentanyl overdose include stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, skin discoloration, and coma.

How Is Fentanyl Addiction Diagnosed?

To diagnose someone with fentanyl addiction, they must undergo a comprehensive clinical evaluation, which typically includes medical exams, drug screenings, and mental health assessments. To start, the clinician will interview the patient, asking about their medical and family history, behaviors, substance use, and symptoms over the last year. They will also order toxicology screenings and perform a psychological evaluation to get more insight.

Using the information gathered during the interview and testing, the clinician will compare the patient’s symptoms and behaviors to standardized guidelines, such as the 11-point checklist from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). This helps them gauge the patient’s symptoms and determine how severe the addiction is. Through this process, a clinician can confirm or rule out a diagnosis of fentanyl addiction.

Who Needs Rehab for Fentanyl Addiction?

If you’re dealing with a dependence on or addiction to fentanyl, you may be wondering at what point you need professional treatment. Although deciding to seek treatment is a personal journey, there are certain indicators that can suggest the need for professional rehab treatment. They include:

• Neglecting your responsibilities, such as work duties, childcare, or schoolwork, due to drug use
• Isolating yourself from your social circle or experiencing a change in friend groups
• Having a higher tolerance and needing to use higher doses of fentanyl to get the same effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using fentanyl or drastically cut back
• Experiencing a visible decline in appearance and personal hygiene

These signs suggest that fentanyl is interfering with your everyday functioning, and professional treatment may be necessary to help you get clean and stay sober.

How Does Fentanyl Addiction Treatment Work at Rubicon Recovery Center?

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we offer three levels of outpatient rehab programs for individuals with fentanyl addiction and other SUDs. Each of our programs is based on a three-fold model that addresses physical, mental, and spiritual health, not just surface-level symptoms. Our programs include:

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): This is our highest-level outpatient program. It typically lasts 30–45 days and runs for 6 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This program is a middle ground between PHP and OP. It lasts around 10 to 12 weeks and runs for 3 to 5 days a week, 3 hours a day.
• Outpatient Program (OP): This is our lowest-level program, which is typically only for current patients who need to transition out of IOP or PHP. It runs for 2 to 3 days per week with 1 hour of treatment each day.

Our team of addiction counselors, therapists, and support staff will give each patient a comprehensive assessment when they arrive to determine which program is best for their needs. The team will then develop a personalized treatment plan that is specifically designed for the patient and their recovery goals.

What Are the Treatment Options for Fentanyl Addiction?

Fentanyl addiction treatment can look different for each patient. What works for one person may not work for another. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we utilize a wide array of therapies, services, and modalities to provide whole-person care. Some treatments we may use include:

Medical Detoxification (Detox)

Medical detox is a major part of fentanyl addiction treatment. Before most behavioral therapies and medications can begin, a patient must get clean from fentanyl. Medically supervised detox provides a safe place for patients to wean off substances while having their withdrawal symptoms managed with medical help.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we don’t provide medical detox at our facility. However, we partner with trustworthy medical detox facilities and can refer patients to them, ensuring our patients get continuity of care and a strong start to sobriety.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is considered the clinical gold standard for treating fentanyl addiction. It combines certain approved medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine, with counseling and behavioral therapies. It has proven highly effective in treating fentanyl addiction, helping to stabilize brain chemistry, reduce physical cravings, and limit the euphoric effects of opioids.

MAT also helps prevent overdose deaths and improves retention in long-term addiction programs. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we coordinate medication-assisted treatment in many fentanyl treatment plans to help our patients on their journeys to recovery.

Behavioral Therapies

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we employ several different therapies and modalities, including individual and group sessions, to help patients in fentanyl addiction treatment. These therapies are often combined with medication to get the best results. They include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This is a type of talk therapy that focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviors that are related to addiction.
• Contingency management: This is a behavioral therapy that rewards people for meeting treatment goals, such as having negative drug tests or continuously attending treatment.
• Group therapy: This involves a collaborative session led by a licensed therapist where other members of the community participate in discussions to promote peer support.
• Family counseling: This invites family members to participate in therapy sessions with the goals of increasing understanding and enhancing familial relationships.

These therapies help patients get to the root causes of their substance use, identify their triggers, and work on developing better coping mechanisms.

Holistic Therapies

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we combine our evidence-based therapies with holistic therapies, or techniques that help treat the whole person, not simply their diagnosis or symptoms. Holistic therapies we offer include:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Art therapy
• Nutrition therapy

Based on the patient’s interests, we will include some of these holistic therapies in their treatment plan to help address their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

What Are the Recovery Expectations for Fentanyl Addiction?

When it comes to addiction, there isn’t a set timeline for recovery. Recovery depends on many different factors, including personal circumstances, level of commitment, financial situations, and more. Therefore, the timeline is different for everyone.

However, certain strategies and resources can help a person maintain their sobriety. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide our patients with comprehensive aftercare planning to help them beyond the length of their treatment program. Resources we provide include:

• Relapse prevention tools, including attending support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and coping strategies training
• Ongoing therapy
• Alumni program
• Connections to community resources, such as sober living homes

Taking advantage of these resources helps you set yourself up for success after your initial treatment ends.

Why Choose Rubicon Recovery Center for Fentanyl Addiction Treatment?

Whether it’s you or a loved one with a fentanyl addiction, deciding to get help is the first step in recovery. The second step is deciding where to get help. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide specialized treatment plans for individuals with fentanyl addiction. We use a combination of evidence-based therapies, dedicated support, and holistic modalities to provide a whole-person approach to recovery.

The environment of our facility is non-judgmental and supportive. It features three large group rooms, 12 clinical offices, a conference room, and a lounge area. It is designed to help our patients feel safe, secure, and comfortable throughout their programs.

Our facility is run by a specialized team of licensed addiction counselors, therapists, rehab professionals, and support staff. Every member is committed to helping our patients restore balance, rediscover their passions, and work toward lasting recovery. Our team also aims to make addiction treatment as accessible as possible, so we provide financing options and accept various insurance plans. To learn more about why people choose Rubicon Recovery Center, check out our testimonials.

Find Fentanyl Addiction Treatment Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

Fentanyl addiction can take a major toll on every aspect of your life. Fortunately, treatment is available at Rubicon Recovery Center. We provide outpatient rehab programs with evidence-based and holistic therapies, helping to heal the whole person.

We accept most major insurance providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and more. We offer a quick and easy insurance verification process, where we’ll take your insurance information and determine your coverage and possible out-of-pocket costs. Call (908) 274-0015 to speak confidentially with an admissions specialist or to request insurance verification. To learn more about fentanyl addiction treatment near you in NJ, contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fentanyl Addiction

What is fentanyl, and how is it abused?

Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is manufactured in a lab. It can be snorted, smoked, taken orally, or given transdermally. Because it’s highly potent and addictive, it is often used as an alternative to other opioids or mixed with other substances to increase their effects.

How dangerous is fentanyl compared to other opioids?

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, making it extra dangerous compared to other opioids because it is much more potent.

What are the withdrawal symptoms from fentanyl?

When withdrawing from fentanyl, a person may experience:

• Intense cravings
• Dilated pupils
• Dysphoric or depressed mood
• Insomnia
• Aching muscles
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Sweating
• Diarrhea

Can fentanyl addiction be treated with outpatient programs?

Yes, fentanyl addiction can be treated with outpatient programs. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we have experience treating fentanyl addiction on an outpatient basis.

What is the role of medication-assisted treatment for fentanyl addiction?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the gold standard of treatment for fentanyl addiction. It combines approved medications with behavioral therapies to help reduce cravings, relapses, and overdose deaths.

What happens during detox from fentanyl?

During detox from fentanyl, a person weans off the substance under the supervision of medical professionals to help manage withdrawal symptoms. However, people may experience symptoms like sweating, hot and cold flashes, nausea, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and more.

How long does it take to recover from fentanyl addiction?

The timeline for fentanyl addiction recovery will depend on many factors, including the severity of the addiction, whether the patient has co-occurring disorders, and whether other substance use is present. However, treatment program lengths often range from a few weeks to several months.

Can fentanyl addiction lead to an overdose?

Yes, fentanyl addiction can and often does lead to overdoses because it is highly potent and can slow breathing down to a life-threatening level.

Can fentanyl overdoses be treated?

Yes, fentanyl overdoses can be treated with a medication called naloxone. It is a life-saving medication that quickly reverses the effects of opioid overdoses by preventing opioids from attaching to receptors in the brain.

How do you know if drugs have been laced with fentanyl?

There is no way to tell if another drug or pill contains fentanyl by simply looking, tasting, or smelling it. The only way to know if a drug has been laced with fentanyl is by using fentanyl test strips, which can detect the presence of fentanyl in various substances.