Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid painkiller medication. This prescribed drug is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It has also become one of America’s most abused prescription medications. Unfortunately, most people know very little about the drug or its properties. When someone abuses a medication this powerful, they are always putting themselves at risk of a fentanyl overdose.
What Are the Signs of a Fentanyl Overdose?
If you know of someone abusing this drug, it would be prudent for you to know the signs of a fentanyl overdose. Once you recognize the victim is in distress, you must call 911 immediately for help. Opiate-based overdose is very dangerous and can act very quickly to take a life.
Anyone of the signs of a fentanyl overdose should be cause for alarm. As with any other drug overdose, your immediate recognition could be the difference between death and survival. Here’s a list of symptoms for you to look for:
- Loss of muscle function
- A severe drop in heart rate
- A sharp drop in blood pressure
- Noticeable dizziness and confusion
- Dangerously slowed or stopped breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Blue tinting of the lips and fingernails
Preventing Overdoses
Most overdoses come as a result of substance abuse. The best way for someone to avoid overdosing is to seek addiction treatment. In almost all cases, the best treatment option will come from a reputable drug and alcohol treatment center.
With a drug like fentanyl, detox is almost always necessary before the addict heads off for therapy. A medical detox assures the patient will get through withdrawal with as little pain and discomfort as possible. Detox is sometimes available through a treatment center. However, detox specialists like Serenity House Detox often offer the best detox options.
After detox, the real work begins. The therapy portion of treatment is where the patient will learn the truth about their addiction. Knowing the truth is important because it allows patients to develop the coping skills needed to avoid triggers. With the right relapse prevention skills, the road to recovery is stable.
Serenity House Detox
Our premier South Florida-based detox center resides in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. We offer the following detox options:
- Holistic approach to detox
- Men’s detox program
- Women’s detox program
- Medically monitored detox programs
- Specific detox programs for a wide range of substances
- Addiction counseling
Before you or a loved one fall victim to a substance overdose, we hope someone will come forward seeking help. Serenity House Detox is available for anyone who is ready to move toward the road to recovery. You can reach us by dialing 866-294-5306. With our combined efforts, we can prepare you for the rigors of treatment. A life without substance abuse is a life worth living.
