October 26, 2022 - Chicago, Il - First responders in Chicago are sounding the alarm about a rising tide of fentanyl use in the city. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin. It is often used to cut other drugs or sold as a cheap substitute for heroin.
Although our emergency responders work to save lives every day, over 75% of people in Illinois die from an opioid overdose (source: https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/sites/covid-19-vaccine/Documents/press_releases/2022/CPL-CDPH_Narcan_Press_Release.pdf) before EMS arrives on the scene. Fentanyl is making the problem worse, as more and more people are using it without realizing how dangerous it is.
"Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day."
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram (https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness)
The most important fact you need to know about fentanyl is—It's destroying lives faster than any illicit drug in modern history.
Opioid Addiction is a Disease
And fentanyl is its latest and deadliest iteration.
Most people with opioid use disorder (OUD) don't seek out or want to use fentanyl. But the illicit drug market is increasingly poisoned with it, and people are dying as a result. In Chicago, fentanyl-related deaths have more than quadrupled in the last several years.
Between January 2018 and December 2020, there were 4,283 opioid-related deaths in Chicago and Cook County. Nearly 82% involved fentanyl. In 2021 alone, the area had 1,840 fatalities from opioid overdoses; the last count for the year could be over 2,100 cases.
Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful opioid. It's often mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine to increase its potency. A 2-milligram dose can be deadly, and it's become the go-to choice for many drug dealers because it's cheap and easy to obtain.
OUD Doesn't Have to Be the End: Options Are Available
If you or someone you love is struggling with an OUD, including fentanyl addiction, know that many options are available for treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but a variety of evidence-based therapies can be effective in helping people get their lives back on track.
Some people may need inpatient treatment, while others can get help through medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT combines behavioral therapy with medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone to treat OUD. It's a highly effective treatment that can help people manage their cravings and withdrawal symptoms to focus on recovery.
All recovery programs include therapy. During counseling sessions, people with OUD can learn how to cope with triggers, manage their emotions, and stay on track with their goals. Treatment should be individualized to each person's needs, but many different types of therapy can help treat OUD.
At Brightside Clinic, we offer various evidence-based treatment services for people with OUD. Our goal is to help our patients build a foundation for a happy, healthy, and sober life. Please contact us today if you or someone you love is struggling with an OUD. We can help.
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Company Name: Brightside Clinic
Contact Person: Phil Atteberry
Email: Send Email
Phone: 1-224-205-7863
Address:24363 Spring Creek Road, Suite A
City: Washington - 61571
State: IL
Country: United States
Website: https://www.brightsideclinic.com/
