West Virginia had the highest overdose deaths per capita in the United States in 2021. Fentanyl was involved in 76% of those deaths. That’s a startling statistic. If you have a fentanyl use disorder, it’s easy to fear becoming another number on the list of the opioid epidemic’s victims. You are far more than a number, though. You are a complex human being with a unique story to tell, and your life and experience are valuable. You are worthy of help no matter who you are or where you come from. At Hope for Tomorrow, our belief in that is at the core of everything we do. We offer treatment for fentanyl use disorder, and any coinciding mental health conditions or substance use disorders, and we offer it to everyone. Whether you’re a veteran, an expecting mother, a person with an additional medical condition, or none of the above, there is a place for you in one of Hope for Tomorrow’s fentanyl addiction treatment programs.
If you’ve used fentanyl before, but only a few times, you may ask yourself the question, “Am I addicted to fentanyl?” Many people with fentanyl use disorders believe they can quit using fentanyl at any time, or that their fentanyl use isn’t a problem. This is rarely the case. We encourage you to consider getting help for your fentanyl use with Hope for Tomorrow.
Maybe you haven’t used fentanyl yourself, but you fear someone you love has a fentanyl use disorder. We know this is a scary prospect, but there is help and hope for your loved one too.
For those uncertain about the role fentanyl plays in their or their loved one’s life, there are both physical and mental symptoms of fentanyl use disorder to be aware of.
Physical symptoms of fentanyl use disorder include:
Fentanyl doesn’t just impact the body. It also impacts the mind, and can change people’s behavior and personalities. Those living with a fentanyl use disorder may exhibit:
For people with fentanyl use disorder, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as a few hours after they last used fentanyl. Withdrawal symptoms are a large reason why it’s so difficult to break away from fentanyl use alone. Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms include the following:
When you first call us about treatment options, an admissions coordinator will walk you through a detailed assessment. There are no right or wrong answers. The point of the assessment is to determine the level of care to best match your needs, and it will be the first step in developing your custom-made treatment plan.
There are multiple programs available at Hope for Tomorrow to help you recover from your fentanyl use disorder, and participating in any of them will change your life for the better.
Residential treatment consists of 24/7 care while you stay at one of our facilities in Point Pleasant or Beckley. Our Beckley facility is smaller with a strong focus on residential treatment, while our Point Pleasant location is larger with a wider variety of programs available.
When checking into our residential program, you’ll complete intake forms to provide even more information to guide your treatment. Your forms will also provide a baseline for us to track your progress as you continue through the program. You’ll also receive a medical assessment from our trained medical professionals, and receive medical care around the clock during your time with us.
Our team may recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for your fentanyl use disorder. MAT can help ease withdrawal symptoms and diminish cravings so you can focus on achieving lasting recovery through other aspects of your treatment plan. Additional components of our residential program include daily group and individual counseling, and a minimum weekly visit by your medical provider.
The length of your stay will depend on your treatment plan, but our residential programs most commonly last for 30 days, with 60-day stays available if needed.
Leaving Hope for Tomorrow’s residential program doesn’t mean you’ll leave our care for good. We offer continuing care for patients from our residential programs, which involves continued therapy and support in your recovery. We also usually recommend transitioning from a residential program to an outpatient program.
Hope for Tomorrow offers two types of outpatient programs for fentanyl use disorder: intensive outpatient and standard outpatient.
Outpatient programs are helpful because they allow you to keep up with your typical routine while still receiving treatment. If you’re busy with work, school, being a parent, or something else, our outpatient program can be tailored to fit your schedule. Depending on whether you participate in an intensive outpatient or standard outpatient program, you may come to our facility for treatment several hours a day multiple days a week, or for just a few hours per month.
The care offered in both outpatient programs is the same. MAT is available in our outpatient programs as well, paired with a weekly visit with your dedicated therapist. In therapy sessions, you’ll work to understand your fentanyl use disorder, what caused it, and how to achieve lasting recovery.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine. When used legally, it can treat severe pain, such as pain after surgeries or during late-stage cancer. Unfortunately, fentanyl can also be made illicitly for little cost and is the leading cause of overdose deaths in the entire country, West Virginia included.
Some people seek out fentanyl by itself because its effects are similar to heroin but far stronger. Oftentimes, however, people buying heroin or other street drugs will receive fentanyl unknowingly. Fentanyl is cheap and potent, so many drug suppliers will add it to other drugs, such as heroin, to make the supply last longer at a lower cost. Fentanyl comes in a white powder and liquid form, and is sometimes made into a pill that resembles other opioids. Fentanyl is nearly impossible to recognize without fentanyl detection strips. It is especially deadly when mixed with other substances, and it often is.
Fentanyl’s early effects can feel appealing, but fentanyl is dangerous. A fentanyl overdose is possible at any dose and at any time. The risk of overdose increases with more use of fentanyl, as do other negative impacts on a person’s life.
In the short-term, fentanyl produces the commonly referred to “high,” but it is also dangerous from the start. While it can cause euphoria, relaxation, and relief from pain, it can also cause nausea, disorientation, sedation, breathing problems, and unconsciousness. If a person is having trouble breathing or falls unconscious after taking fentanyl, call 911 right away. West Virginia’s Good Samaritan Law ensures you and the person overdosing will be safe from legal trouble.
Long-term fentanyl use can lead to a fentanyl use disorder. People with fentanyl use disorder often find themselves chasing the feeling fentanyl gives them, and this can cause strain on every area of their lives. Needing to buy fentanyl to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms can cause financial problems, which is why an indication of a potential substance use disorder is the need to borrow money. Borrowing money can put loved ones in difficult situations themselves, especially if the person with the fentanyl use disorder can’t pay them back.
People with fentanyl use disorders often experience declining performance in work and school, either due to fentanyl’s withdrawal symptoms distracting them, or their fixation on finding and using fentanyl taking priority over other areas of their life. They also lose interest in things they used to enjoy, including hobbies and friendships. This can cause self-isolation, and a deep loneliness they try and fail to fill with more fentanyl.
The decision to seek treatment is a daunting one, whether you’re seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one. Hope for Tomorrow’s passionate, caring team is prepared to help you eliminate the hold fentanyl has on your life whenever you’re ready.
Hope for Tomorrow is a substance use and mental healthcare treatment center with locations in Point Pleasant and Beckley, West Virginia. We treat everyone who enters our facility with respect and compassion, and offer quality care to whoever needs it. Give us a call at 877-679-8162 today.
