Fentanyl Addiction Treatment

Understanding Fentanyl Addiction in Teens

Fentanyl is an incredibly potent synthetic opioid. It is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is often mixed or cut with other illicitly manufactured street drugs to increase drug potency. Because of this, fentanyl often contributes to unintentional drug overdose deaths.

Illegal fentanyl is often sold as a powder that goes into eye droppers or pills which are made to look like legitimate prescriptions. It’s not uncommon for the powder to be mixed in with cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. This greatly increases the lethality of these drugs and serious risk of overdose.

Fentanyl addiction devastates teens, causing physical harm, mental health decline, and social isolation. With its high potency, the risk of overdose from fentanyl is high. Addiction disrupts education, relationships, families, and future prospects for life.

Fentanyl addiction in teens is caused by a mix of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.

Recognizing the Signs of Fentanyl Use in Teens

If you feel your teen may be using fentanyl, look for the following signs:

Physical Signs

• Drowsiness or Sedation: Difficulty staying awake with extreme drowsiness and nodding off.
• Slowed Breathing: Irregular or shallow breathing.
• Pinpoint Pupils: Very small (constricted) pupils.
• Nausea or Vomiting: Stomach upset.
• Itching or Scratching: Itching which may lead to frequent scratching.
• Slurred Speech: Speech is difficult to understand.
• Cold, Clammy Skin: Sweaty skin.
• Loss of Coordination: Unsteady movements, stumbling or poor balance.
• Weight Loss: Due to self-care neglect or reduced appetite.
• Needle Marks: Look for track marks on arms, legs, or other body parts.

Behavioral Signs

• Social Withdrawal: From family, friends, and activities once enjoyed.
• Secretive Behavior: Hiding where they are going, evasive or lying about activities.
• Changes in Friends: Spending time with new or suspicious, often older friends.
• Neglecting Responsibilities: Skipping school, poor academic performance, ignoring chores.
• Stealing or Borrowing Money: Need for money unexplained or missing valuables at home.
• Drug Paraphernalia: Hiding small bags, pills, powders, or drug-related items.
• Frequent Nosebleeds: Nosebleeds or a runny nose may occur if snorting fentanyl.
• Risky Behavior: Participating in dangerous activities, such as driving under the influence.

Psychological Signs

• Mood Swings: Mood changes rapidly, from euphoria to irritability or depression.
• Apathy: Loss of interest in school, hobbies or future plans.
• Anxiety or Paranoia: Increased nervousness or irrational fears.
• Confusion or Disorientation: Difficulty concentrating, seeming “out of it.”
• Euphoria: Periods of extreme excitement or happiness, followed by crashes.

Signs of Overdose

Fentanyl overdose is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Signs include:

• Unresponsiveness: Unable to wake the person up.
• Slow or Stopped Breathing: Breathing may be very shallow or stop altogether.
• Blue Lips or Fingertips: Signals oxygen deprivation.
• Gurgling Sounds: Choking or gurgling noises due to respiratory depression.
• Limp Body: Muscles may become completely relaxed.

Our Teen Fentanyl Addiction Program

We offer comprehensive fentanyl addiction treatment with medically supervised detox and individual, group, and family therapies. Therapy focuses on challenging thought patterns and behaviors related to drug use and then altering behaviors.

Levels of Care Offered at Clearfork Academy

At Clearfork Academy we offer several levels of care.

Detox

The first step in the healing process is either medically supervised detoxification or a safe, supportive stabilization period, depending upon the treatment needs.

Residential Treatment

We offer a structured residence where teenagers live away from home and take intensive therapy and counseling. With the support of our therapists and counselors, teens learn coping skills and develop positive changes in behavior and attitude.

Individualized therapy, group sessions, family therapy, and educational support are all part of the program.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

PHP is a transition program for teens who are ready to move beyond full-time residential treatment but could still benefit from a more intensive support structure. For those teens stepping down from full-time residential treatment, PHP aids in long-term recovery as it allows teens to return to their new everyday lives while providing structured treatment.

The PHP program consists of 5 days per week or 20 hrs per week of group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy, as clinically appropriate.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Our IOP program can serve as a step-down process after completion of the PHP program. It includes three hours of group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy as clinically appropriate. The IOP program is centered around your teen’s emotional growth and the development of coping skills.

Alumni Program

The goal of our program is to foster ongoing connections between former patients, their families, and us by:

• Monitoring participants closely
• Providing timely assistance during challenging moments
• Celebrating their achievements and milestones with the alumni members

We have developed a robust community of alumni, who support each other in their recovery journey and maintain active engagement. This program is a critical success factor in your teen’s recovery.

Why Choose Clearfork Academy?

We are a Christ-centered treatment facility in Texas focusing on treating teenagers who are struggling with fentanyl abuse and other drugs. We provide medically supervised detox and comprehensive levels of care to help teens get sober and live a healthy life.

Clearfork uses a blend of evidence-based therapies, medication, recreational activities, and family support/education to help your teen overcome drug abuse.

Customized treatment programs are the cornerstone of effective substance use treatment for teens. Recognizing that each teen comes with a distinct story and set of needs, we develop personalized plans.

We understand how severe fentanyl addiction is and the complex nature of substance use in teens. Our compassionate team focuses on healing the body, mind, and spirit so that your teen can become healthy again and with a positive future.