Author: James Anderson

Synthetic Drug Addiction Treatment in Illinois Find Rehab

In reality, while it’s never too late to ask for help, doing so as soon as possible increases your chances of overcoming this complex and dangerous disease. The risk of death increases when synthetic opioids like fentanyl are added to the mixture without the user’s knowledge. Since most people with SUD will spend a significant amount of time taking their chosen drug and coming down from its effects, you may notice them avoiding their responsibilities at home, work or school. For instance, a person with SUD may neglect homework or skip classes in favor of taking drugs. Additionally, they may steal money or participate in risky behaviors to obtain more substances and sustain their addiction.

Behavioral Therapies

Relationships may suffer as individuals battling addiction are likely to be secretive, withdrawn, and prone to erratic behavior and intense mood swings. Sleep patterns and regular eating habits may seem out of the ordinary, and those addicted to synthetic drugs may have significant changes in weight and a disregard for personal hygiene. Even though synthetic drugs may not always show up on a drug test, behavioral and social changes may be evidence enough that addiction treatment is necessary.

Personal History

When found in retail stores, synthetic cathinones may be labeled as “plant food,” “bath salts,” “jewelry cleaner,” or “phone screen cleaner.” These drugs can be snorted, injected, smoked, or eaten. Synthetic drugs, sometimes called “designer drugs” or new psychoactive substances (NPS), are intoxicating substances manufactured to “copy” or mimic the effects of other controlled substances. They have no legitimate medical uses and are often marketed as cheap substitutes for the real thing.

In 2012, the Obama Administration signed into law a bill that outlawed 26 compounds permanently, adding them to the list of illegal, Schedule I substances. While this law has been adjusted for new compounds several times, it’s tough for the law to stay ahead of manufacturers on the issue. “I used to think that everyone was just waiting for us to die” said a drug user in Europe, who fortunately received treatment in time. The number of new psychoactive substances emerging on illicit drug markets has increased six-fold in the past decade and reached a record high of over 1,000 unique substances in 2020.

  1. Family therapy can be an essential part of the recovery process, helping to heal relationships and build a supportive home environment.
  2. Effective treatment involves a comprehensive approach that addresses the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction.
  3. However, they can be much more potent and dangerous, leading to severe health effects including psychosis, seizures, and heart attacks.
  4. They may also lie about how they’ve been spending their money and attempt to shield their activities from their friends and loved ones.
  5. Typically, stabilization is the initial goal of detox, and this may be accomplished after the drug is fully and safely removed from the bloodstream.
  6. Read on to learn more about the risks and dangers of using synthetic drugs and how to get help for synthetic drug addiction at Oxford Treatment Center.

Addiction Treatment Programs

They are often labeled “not for human consumption” to hide the fact that they were manufactured for dangerous, recreational use. They might also be marketed as jewelry cleaners or plant food to avoid detection by the authorities. Synthetic stimulants typically take the form of white or brown powder, though they can be found in various colors.

Recovery from synthetic drug addiction is a challenging journey, but it’s not impossible. Participating in an effective synthetic drug addiction treatment program is the key to successful recovery. Effective treatment involves a comprehensive approach that addresses the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction. The landscape of drug abuse and trafficking is an ever-evolving challenge, with synthetic drugs trends emerging as a dominant and devastating force. Synthetic drug addiction treatment centers might use Suboxone or Vivitrol to treat withdrawal symptoms and help patients experience a smoother recovery process. These medicines are not a substitute for ongoing treatment, though they can help patients taper drugs from their systems and comfortably attend individual and group therapy sessions.

Keeping Up with Synthetic and Designer Drugs: Lab-Made Marijuana, Opioids and Stimulants

Often made to mimic other addictive or illicit drugs and misleadingly marketed as safe, these substances produce unpredictable and adverse health reactions. Despite being sold as a safe or legal “high,” the strength of these substances is often unknown and can be more dangerous than some of the illicit drugs they’re designed to mimic. Law enforcement officials have encountered hundreds of different types of synthetic drugs, with new substances continuously emerging on the market. Although the production and appearance of drug use may be constantly changing, the first step toward recovery is always the same.

Signs and Symptoms of Synthetic Drug Addiction

Behavioral therapy can improve a person’s self-esteem and feelings of self-worth while teaching healthy stress coping mechanisms and communication tools—both of which can help prevent relapse. Family therapy can be an essential part of the recovery process, helping to heal relationships and build a supportive home environment. Addiction often affects the entire family, and involving family members in the recovery process can enhance outcomes and provide a stronger support network for the individual in recovery. During 2012, about 11% of high school seniors reported that they had used synthetic marijuana at some point in the past year. In 2010, there were 11,406 emergency room visits related to synthetic marijuana, and 75% of those cases involved people between 12 and 29 years old.

Like the others, fentanyl is a lab-produced chemical that’s legally available (although under prescription). But it’s 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and is often laced in other illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. Sadly, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths in the United States. Their short-term side effects include drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, troubled breathing and unconsciousness.

They are made to mimic the effects of other addictive drugs and marketed to users as a “safe high.” These drugs include substances like bath salts and Spice (or K2). If you or someone you love struggle with synthetic drug use, reach out to American Addiction Centers (AAC). With treatment centers that offer evidence-based therapies and the entire continuum of care, AAC can help get you on the path to recovery. Contrary to what some may think, synthetic drug use is not a safer alternative to illicit substance use. Some of these drugs distort the senses and cause hallucinations or psychotic side effects as well.

When confronted, the person battling addiction may downplay their drug use or deny it altogether. However, if you’re concerned that someone you know is struggling, a few crucial behavioral and psychological changes may indicate SUD. While it’s never too late to seek treatment, getting help as early as possible can increase their chances of a successful recovery. Synthetic cathinones, or stimulants, are often labeled as bath salts and produce similar effects as cocaine and hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and methamphetamine.

They aim to provide ongoing care and support by administering medicines to make your physical withdrawal symptoms tolerable and ease you through recovery. Specifically, it seems young adults are more prone to synthetic drug addiction since these substances can be sent to a person’s doorstep with the click of a button. Read on to learn more about the risks and dangers of using synthetic drugs and how to get help for synthetic drug addiction at Oxford Treatment Center. Synthetic drugs, sometimes called “designer drugs” or new psychoactive substances (NPS), are a growing public health concern.