A Parent’s Guide to Fentanyl Addiction Symptoms in Teens
Living at Reflections Rehab
One of the Nation's Leading Recovery Treatment Center for Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorders.
In the United States alone, 150 people die every day from opioid overdoses due to drugs like fentanyl. Teenagers are especially at risk since they’re less likely to understand the consequences of using fentanyl.
Even more, it’s common for pills to be laced with strong doses of fentanyl, making it easier to overdose than you may realize. If you have concerns for your teen, learning about fentanyl addiction symptoms will teach you what to watch for, allowing you to catch fentanyl use early on.
Keep reading this guide to learn everything you need to know about fentanyl and addiction symptoms in teenagers. You’ll also find out about treatment options you can turn to.
OVERVIEW OF FENTANYL
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that has similar qualities to morphine but is between 50 and 100 times stronger.
Opioids are naturally occurring substances found in the opium poppy plant, which grows in warm dry climates like Central Asia and Mexico. Synthetic opioids are created from human-made substances in a laboratory. Sometimes opioid drugs can contain both synthetic and natural opioid ingredients.
Fentanyl is actually a prescription drug intended to treat severe chronic pain after surgery or from illnesses like cancer. It’s often used to treat people who have a tolerance to other opioid medications.
You’ll see prescription fentanyl medications under names like Durageic, Actiq, and Sublimaze.
HOW DO YOU USE FENTANYL?
Prescription fentanyl comes in injections, patches, or lozenges similar to cough drops.
Illegal fentanyl is typically made in a lab with unregulated dosages. For this reason, it’s most often connected to fentanyl overdoses. It’s usually sold in powder form in a blotter paper or put into an eye dropper.
It can also be made into pills so it looks like other, more harmless prescription opioids.
In some cases, drug dealers mix fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. This is because the potency of fentanyl means it takes little of it to produce a high. Therefore, it’s cost-effective to mix fentanyl with other drugs.
People don’t realize the drugs they’re taking contain fentanyl, and their bodies aren’t used to the effects, which also leads to overdoses.
Even though fentanyl can be very effective in treating pain, it can lead to drug addiction when taken long-term. This is mainly due to how it impacts the brain.
FENTANYL AND THE BRAIN
Fentanyl is an opioid which means it works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and body. These receptors are responsible for controlling pain and emotions.
Opioids impact the dopamine receptors of the brain in particular. Dopamine is associated with reward and pleasure and is known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers between neurons in your brain.
Dopamine is released when your brain expects a reward. For example, if you’re baking your favorite treat, you may experience an increase in dopamine in anticipation of eating it. This holds true for basically any activity you enjoy.
However, opioids also impact this feel-good transmitter and change the way it perceives pain. Therefore when you take an opioid like fentanyl, you not only have decreased pain but also a rush of euphoria.
The more opioids you take, the more it takes to achieve this euphoric effect. This can leave people chasing this high, which paves the path towards dependence and addiction.
FENTANYL ADDICTION SYMPTOMS IN TEENS
Now that you know more about fentanyl, you’ll be better able to identify fentanyl addiction symptoms in your teen. Common symptoms include:
Behavioral Changes
The most notable behavioral change you may notice is your teen withdrawing from activities and sports they once loved. You may also find their focus at school has shifted, resulting in dropping grades.
It’s also common for teens involved in drug use to begin spending time with different friends. They may even completely stop hanging around the same group of friends they’ve had for years.
Spending habits can change due to the need to buy drugs. This will lead to teens asking for money more often.
You’ll usually notice reckless behavior, stealing, and lying. Also, sudden weight loss or gain can occur. Your teen will continue to use fentanyl no matter how it damages their life, which is a sign of opioid use disorder (OUD).
Physical Misuse Symptoms
You should also be on the lookout for physical misuse symptoms. Keep in mind these symptoms are similar to misuse of other substances. It’s best to be aware of red flags such as:
Breathing changes can indicate an overdose. If you notice your teen is lethargic and isn’t breathing effectively, you need to get immediate medical assistance.
FENTANYL WITHDRAWAL
Other symptoms to watch your teen for include fentanyl withdrawal symptoms.
Using fentanyl long-term creates a physical and psychological dependence. Physical dependence occurs when a person must take a drug to be able to function normally and prevent withdrawal symptoms.
If your teen tries to stop or cut back fentanyl use on their own, they’ll begin experiencing serious opioid withdrawal symptoms.
领英推荐
Opioid withdrawal symptoms occur in stages and begin within 12 hours after your teen has last taken fentanyl. The severity of withdrawal symptoms also depends on the length of use and overall health.
Common early withdrawal symptoms include:
Some people also develop a fever, chills, and severe shaking.
Complications
Opioid withdrawal can become serious and extremely difficult to navigate alone. Many times people feel so horrible that they start taking drugs again to alleviate the symptoms. Ultimately this leads to a vicious cycle that is challenging to break out of alone.
Also, health problems like a heart condition can make withdrawal a much more complex process. Some people also have so much vomiting and diarrhea, it can lead to problems with dehydration.
Overall, the safest way to manage fentanyl addiction and withdrawal is through an addiction treatment program.
FENTANYL ADDICTION TREATMENT FOR TEENS
If you have a teen using fentanyl, then you’ll need to take action as quickly as possible. Remember, for the most part, teenagers don’t have a good understanding of what these behaviors can lead to.
All they focus on is that taking drugs makes them feel better, or maybe feel less anxious, or allows them to fit in with friends.
It’s best to begin the conversation in a non-judgmental way and be honest. Give your teen the chance to express their feelings and concerns.
You’ll also need to get familiar with the different treatment phases which include:
DETOX
Detox is the first step on the path toward recovery. It’s necessary to rid the body of drugs and alcohol so your teen can get through the withdrawal process. Since opioid withdrawal can be intense, your teen will need the support of a drug and alcohol detox program.
The first step is getting an overall assessment. Medical staff will need to assess your teen’s physical and mental health. They’ll also need to know about withdrawal symptoms your teen may be experiencing.
From there, they’ll come up with a custom treatment plan. Staff will monitor your teen 24/7 and take vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure. Some medications can help with withdrawal symptoms as well as reduce cravings.
For adolescents, medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone are approved treatment options.
Detox usually lasts approximately a week, then your teen will move on to the next treatment stage.
RESIDENTIAL INPATIENT TREATMENT
Addiction rehabilitation starts with a treatment program. Reflections residential treatment programs are the most intensive and the most effective. They allow your teen to get out of their usual environment and focus on addiction recovery.
Residential programs last between 30 to 90 days, depending on individual treatment needs. Treatment addresses mental health disorders with behavioral therapy since addiction closely ties in with mental health.
If your teen suffers from anxiety or depression, they’ll also receive treatment for this during the program. This usually involves therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is talk therapy that will help your teen recognize negative thought patterns and learn what leads to drug abuse.
Residential treatment also includes:
Once your teen completes residential treatment, they’ll typically attend an intensive outpatient program (IOP), like this program in the Bay Area, to continue treatment.
IOPs allow your teen to live at home while attending treatment three to four days a week, for approximately four-hour sessions.
FIND A FENTANYL ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAM TODAY
Understanding more about fentanyl addiction symptoms will help you guide your teen toward the next phase in their life.
If your teen is struggling with fentanyl use, it’s time to reach out for help. You can turn to Reflections, a rehab center located in Marin County, Northern California for your needs.
Our treatment programs include detox, residential inpatient, and intensive outpatient treatment. We also offer holistic therapies, specialized therapies like art, and nutrition and fitness counseling.
We accept most PPO insurance plans, which makes treatment more affordable. We also have specialized treatment tracks, such as programs for LGBTQ+ individuals, making treatment more accessible for people living different lifestyles.
Make sure to contact us today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs and get your teen started on a new path.
Originally Posted on Reflections.Rehab