Fentanyl Rehab

Fentanyl Addiction Quick Facts

Fentanyl is a prescription painkiller used to target severe pain and is the strongest opioid drug available for pain treatment.

Common prescription fentanyl brand names include:

• Duragesic®
• Sublimaze®
• Actiq®

Prescription fentanyl is offered as patches, lozenges, pills, and sometimes liquid. Alternatively, illicit fentanyl may appear as pills or powder.

Fentanyl of any kind is considered highly addictive and can easily lead to developing substance use disorder, especially if it is used outside of a doctor’s guidelines.

Types of Fentanyl Rehab Programs

Selecting the right opioid addiction treatment program can help fentanyl addicts in recovery avoid relapse and cope with any of the underlying issues that may have encouraged them to begin using fentanyl in the first place.

Inpatient Fentanyl Rehab

Inpatient rehab provides the highest level of care and support for recovering fentanyl addicts.

Patients who sign up for inpatient treatment will live at a residential treatment center for at least 30 days. During their stay, they may undergo medical detox (roughly 1 week) and additional therapies.

Medical care can also be provided during inpatient rehab, particularly during the withdrawal period. Patients have 24/7 access to medical staff in some of the more intensive inpatient programs.

Outpatient Fentanyl Rehab

Not all drug rehab requires a recovering fentanyl addict to live at a recovery center. Outpatient programs provide excellent care for individuals recovering from fentanyl addiction who may have a minor or moderate addiction.

Outpatient fentanyl rehab provides a few different care levels depending on an individual’s needs.

The two main outpatient rehab programs are:

• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP): PHPs offer the same type of daily treatment as one might expect from an inpatient addiction treatment center but without requiring residency. A partial hospitalization program is a good option for those who may be unable to commit to living at a rehab center full-time or who have a lower risk for relapse.
• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): The Intensive Outpatient option provides an even smaller time commitment, with patients attending daytime (or evening) sessions a few times a week for an average period of a few months.

Therapy Used in Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

During fentanyl addiction treatment, recovering addicts will participate in a variety of different behavioral health therapies designed to improve their mental health and well-being.

In many cases, drug addiction stems from underlying mental health issues, from trauma to co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression.

Through group and individual therapy sessions, recovering fentanyl addicts can create improved coping mechanisms, improve their habits, and process much of the internal struggles that led them toward addiction in the first place.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on working with a counselor through individual or group therapy sessions to identify negative thought patterns. Over time, patients will learn how to re-wire or change these patterns into more positive ones.

CBT is often used in fentanyl addiction treatment because it helps individuals in recovery to self-assess and learn what may have triggered their addictive behaviors so they can make different choices in the future.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy is especially useful in fentanyl addiction recovery because it aims to help those who may still be at high risk for relapse.

Through DBT, counselors help recovering addicts recognize their role in their fentanyl addiction and help encourage positive change through acceptance.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is a therapy where patients can earn certain rewards or privileges for positive behavior.

Behaviors that can earn rewards include clear drug tests, participation in group therapy, volunteerism, and so on. Over time, these rewards can increase in value to encourage the recovering fentanyl addict to keep moving forward.

Family Therapy

Family therapy may be a really important component of an addiction treatment plan when a person’s fentanyl addiction has significantly impacted family members.

During their addiction, the person may have lied, stolen, or done other things to break the trust of their loved ones. For some relatives, their worry about the safety of their addicted loved one is enough to take a significant toll on them.

Family therapy sessions can help heal broken trust between loved ones, including parents, children, spouses, and even close friends.

Other Programs for Fentanyl Addiction Recovery

When recovering from a fentanyl addiction, you may experience one or more of the following programs during your treatment.

Fentanyl Detox

Quitting fentanyl without medical intervention is NOT recommended. Instead, medical detox provides a safe alternative to the “cold turkey” method of quitting.

Overall, fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are not usually life-threatening. However, withdrawal symptoms (including cravings during withdrawal) can often lead a user to return to fentanyl abuse.

Even after having fentanyl out of their systems for a short time, returning to fentanyl use often leads to accidental overdose and death.

Medical detox provides recovering fentanyl addicts with a safe, monitored way to taper their fentanyl use and avoid major relapse risks. Medical detox for fentanyl can occur at the inpatient or outpatient level, depending on your individual needs.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

During treatment for fentanyl addiction, a doctor may prescribe specific medication to assist you. These prescription drugs can be used to taper off fentanyl, lessen the withdrawal symptoms, and help people avoid relapse.

Medications used to treat opioid use disorder include:

• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
• Methadone

Sometimes, part of your long-term recovery plan can include medication-assisted treatment that will be taken over time. Other times, users may only need medication for a short period.

12-Step Programs for Fentanyl Recovery

Through 12 specific and linear steps, recovering fentanyl addicts will work through their addiction and recovery alongside peers and often with the help of a sponsor.

Support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are hosted both inside rehab programs and in the community. Many recovering addicts continue to attend 12-step programs after completing their rehab program as part of their aftercare journey.

Sober Living Programs

For some people recovering from a fentanyl addiction, being away from bad influences makes a huge difference in your long-term recovery success. Sober living programs offer a supportive, drug-free environment for people to live during and after rehab.

Sober living programs offer different amenities depending on the individual program, but most involve some form of house or community rules that include chores and check-ins with a staff member.

Find a Fentanyl Rehab Program Nearby

If you or a loved one is struggling with fentanyl addiction, it’s not too late to get help, but it is important to act quickly.

You can start by speaking with your doctor or healthcare provider about the options available for you or your family member.

You can also use SAMHSA’s online program locator or call them at 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) to find fentanyl addiction treatment providers near you.

If you’re serious about ending an addiction to fentanyl, learn about your treatment and therapy options.

Written by

Jessica Miller

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

Reviewed by

• Fact-Checked
• Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.