West Virginia has had the highest drug overdose mortality rate in the United States for the past 10 years. The substances causing those deaths have shifted over time, but in 2023, the leading culprit was fentanyl. It was responsible for nearly 80% of overdose deaths.
Fentanyl is strong, dangerous, and present in the majority of substances you find on the street these days – but chances are, you don’t need us to tell you that. If you’re here, you’re very familiar with that information, and with fentanyl, too.
When you stop taking fentanyl, withdrawal hits like a truck. Even when you try your best to quit, it’s just too painful and difficult, so you return to fentanyl in the end, if only just to survive.
You can do more than survive, and you don’t need fentanyl to do it. You will need treatment, though, and fentanyl detox with Hope for Tomorrow is the first step.
Withdrawal is one of the main reasons people stay trapped in the cycle of fentanyl use disorder. Fentanyl withdrawal hurts, both physically and mentally, and the cravings are intense. Taking more fentanyl feels like the only solution to make that pain end.
Thankfully, that isn’t the case. A fentanyl detox program can empower you to break free from that terrible cycle, and we want to help.
When you first arrive, you’ll undergo a medical assessment. This is to ensure we provide you with the care you need. At Hope for Tomorrow, all treatment is customized for each individual and their unique recovery journey.
Our medical team will be available for you 24/7. We’ll watch over you closely during the fentanyl detox process to make sure you get through withdrawal safely and smoothly. We want you to be as comfortable as possible, so let us know what you need anytime.
Medication can be a huge asset during fentanyl detox. What exactly we use varies and depends on the circumstances. Over-the-counter medications to ease pain and other withdrawal symptoms are common. In some cases, we utilize medications like Suboxone to reduce cravings and make withdrawal less severe. Other prescription medications are an option when appropriate, too.
It can be tempting to try to detox from fentanyl on your own. Fentanyl withdrawal is painful, but rarely fatal outside of severe dehydration that can happen from vomiting or diarrhea. However, that doesn’t mean detoxing at home is safe.
Without treatment, many people who make it through the detox process will eventually return to fentanyl use. This is when overdose is most likely, because your body can’t handle the same dose of fentanyl it did before your withdrawal period. Medical detox at a facility is significantly safer.
Unfortunately, recovery from fentanyl use disorder isn’t as simple as completing a detox program. It’s incredibly difficult to stay fentanyl-free without further treatment.
Anyone who completes fentanyl detox with Hope for Tomorrow will move to a lower level of our care. What fentanyl rehab after detox looks like is different for everyone!
We always recommend residential treatment for anyone who is able to participate. This level of treatment is the most intensive and consistent and allows you to focus fully on recovery without any distractions or triggers.
If you need a more flexible schedule, our intensive outpatient or outpatient program might be a better option. We’ll work with you to figure out the best fit and make sure you have all the resources necessary to heal.
Fentanyl withdrawal feels a lot like the flu. It will affect everyone differently, but symptoms generally start between 6 and 12 hours after your last dose. You might experience:
These symptoms will probably be at their worst between 24 to 72 hours after the last dose of fentanyl. Generally, with treatment and therapy, they subside in about a week.
If you’ve tried to quit taking fentanyl unsuccessfully, it’s frustrating. You’re tired of figuring out where to get fentanyl. You’re tired of wondering if your next dose will cause an overdose. You’re tired of your every waking hour revolving around this substance.
It’s okay to have some grace with yourself. You have a health condition that has altered your brain and engineered it to make fentanyl feel excruciating to stop. That isn’t your fault, and that isn’t something you can control – at least not without treatment.
There is a lot you do have control over, though. You can decide you’re done with fentanyl for good, and take action to equip yourself with everything you need to overcome your fentanyl use disorder. You can choose recovery, starting with fentanyl detox.
Hope for Tomorrow provides addiction recovery services to the people of West Virginia. We want to make that care accessible to as many people as possible – including individuals who haven’t felt as accepted at other facilities. Even if you’ve tried treatment five or more times already, we encourage you to reach out to us. If you’re a pregnant woman, veteran, someone with a health condition, or seeking recovery alongside your partner – we want to help you, too. Everyone is welcome at Hope for Tomorrow, and we truly mean that. Call us at 877-679-8162 today to get started.
Treatment today for a brighter tomorrow.
