As Houston Battles Surge in Fentanyl Related Overdoses Resurgence Behavioral Health Provides Residents With Effective Addiction Treatment

Wimberley, Texas -

Houston, TX – For years, public health officials have been warning about the dangers of heroin laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is now the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. But in the past year, they say fentanyl has also started showing up in many other drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, and counterfeit prescription pills.

Resurgence Behavioral Health, a nationwide substance abuse treatment center with a location near Austin Texas, joins public health experts in sounding the alarm about the insidious new developments raising the stakes in Texas’ drug overdose crisis.

Fentanyl is an opioid that’s up to 100 times stronger than morphine. Doctors prescribe it to treat severe pain, often related to late-stage cancer. But Fentanyl’s potency has also made it popular amongst drug dealers who add it to their products often unbeknownst to users. Fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put into eye droppers and nasal sprays, mixed into other drugs, or made into pills that look like common prescription drugs.

The pills are easier to transport and sell than street drugs laced with fentanyl since they’re smaller and can easily masquerade as legitimate medication. But the pills are far deadlier with the addition of fentanyl. This powerful substance is about 50 times more potent than heroin.

Victims of fentanyl overdose are often first-time users, including young people who are increasingly buying fentanyl-laced pills on social media. The trend can also harm pain sufferers who seek more relief than their doctors are willing to prescribe. They may think they’re getting the real thing on the street and be unaware that their medication has been mixed with a lethal amount of fentanyl. Health experts warn users to trust only those pills they purchase from a pharmacy. If it’s not from a pharmacy, there’s no way of knowing it’s safe – no matter what the bottle or the seller may say.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse urges anyone who has grown dependent on prescription medication to seek treatment as soon as possible. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with drugs such as buprenorphine and methadone helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while naltrexone can block fentanyl’s activity in the brain. Behavioral therapy can also help people build new coping skills to manage substance use better.

MAT and behavioral therapy are two of several forms of treatment offered by Resurgence Texas, which utilizes multiple MAT drugs to help clients maintain their recovery process and prevent relapse and overdose. The center’s specialists have found that MAT is not only effective for opioid addiction but has also been shown to be helpful in the treatment of alcohol use disorder as well. Medications are used to treat physical aspects of addiction but should be offered as part of a holistic approach that includes behavioral therapy to learn new healthier coping skills.

Anyone searching for addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one can speak to a treatment specialist at any time by calling 855-458-0050 or by clicking here. Visit Resurgence Behavioral Health to learn more.