If it sounds like fentanyl, that’s no accident. In fact, it’s a synthetic analog to prescription painkillers. Similarly, it’s a highly addictive opioid. What is carfentanil when pushers use it in the drug trade?
What is Carfentanil?
In the simplest term, this drug’s a veterinary analog to human pain pills. However, they also use it to sedate large animals. Carfentanil is an elephant tranquilizer. Even a small quantity can be fatal to a human.
So, what is carfentanil when pushers get their hands on it? They mix it with heroin to boost the potency of the drug. Similarly, it lets them stretch the actual drug further. Therefore, they increase their profits with the addition of this veterinary drug.
Understanding the Danger of Gray Death
On the street, carfentanil-laced heroin goes by the name “gray death.” The potency of the added ingredient makes this type of heroin deadly. It’s easy to overdose. Worst of all, you may not even know that you’re taking it.
At the heroin addiction rehab center Southern CA trusts, therapists routinely work with clients who had a close call. They survived an accidental overdose. Many had no idea that their heroin had the drug in it. Because carfentanil effects aren’t easy to reverse even with Narcan, some people don’t survive it.
Dealing with an Opioid Addiction
It’s time to end your heroin abuse. If you began taking carfentanil recreationally, there’s a treatment for that, too. Maybe you fear the withdrawal symptoms. It’s true that they’re intense. However, detoxification at a good-quality facility helps you deal with the discomfort.
Medication-assisted treatment prevents pain and helps your body recover. Once you break the physical addiction, it’s time to focus on clinical care. Doing so prevents a relapse.
Several care delivery options fit your needs and schedule. Examples are partial hospitalization as well as an intensive outpatient program. Typical treatment options include:
- Group therapy that introduces you to peer accountability and input
- One-on-one talk therapy that lets you set goals and create a workable plan for achieving long-term recovery
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which opens the door to shifting from dysfunctional coping mechanisms to healthy ones
- Family therapy as a tool for involving loved ones in your recovery process
- Experiential therapies that provide opportunities for you to find new ways of expressing yourself
- Sober living, which encourages you to move in with peers in recovery to have a buffer after program graduation
- Aftercare programs that focus on support group attendance to help you deal with issues as they crop up
Dual diagnosis treatment is an essential tool for overcoming underlying mental health disorders. Many people have co-occurring conditions they don’t know about. You may have used the opioids to self-medicate. Maybe you struggled with intrusive thoughts that you wanted a respite from.
However, there’s a better way of dealing with these conditions. During your time at the rehab center, you learn to manage underlying conditions. Doing so eliminates many triggers for substance abuse. It puts you in an excellent position for relapse prevention.
How to Enter Rehab
Don’t wait any longer to seek help. What is carfentanil but one of the deadliest opioids currently on the market? Therapists at Phoenix Rising empower you to overcome chemical dependency. Call 8552328211 today to schedule an appointment.