Prince’s Death: Learning From a Painkiller Overdose
You are here:When a celebrity suffers a drug-related death, it reminds us that nobody is immune to the devastating affects of substance abuse. There’s an enormous impact when a legendary musician like Prince passes away. The tragic news came as a surprise this summer, because Prince was only 57 years old and had performed shows up until April 14, 2016. Unfortunately, fentanyl has the ability to destroy lives in an instant, and Prince was no exception. The death of this music icon has shown that we should not underestimate the risks of an opiate dependence, and it’s important to learn about its effects if you or someone you know has one.
Fentanyl is an opioid frequently used for pain relief after surgery. Its effects don’t last for an extended period, unless it comes in a time-release formula. It is a very powerful drug, and will sometimes be used to treat pain that other types of opiates can’t completely relieve. There are many ways to take fentanyl, including patches, lollipops, dissolving films, pills and needles. Fentanyl is extremely potent, and there is a high risk of overdose when used outside of a hospital. Chronic pain and prescription drug abuse often go hand in hand.
Signs of Abuse
If you’re worried that a family member might be misusing fentanyl, there are some warning signs you can look out for. One of the biggest risks with this drug is that although a small dose is effective initially, the user requires a higher and higher dose to achieve the same relief over time. The person can become physically dependent on fentanyl, and will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they don’t get their fix. It’s common for people suffering a fentanyl addiction to spend exuberant amounts of money on the drug in a short period of time. If you notice a radical change in your loved one’s behavior, such as lying about money, extreme lethargy or dizziness – and they have a history of opioid use – you may want to have a conversation about the situation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Making Lifelong Changes
Sometimes we recognize addiction in ourselves, and wonder how to move forward and overcome the problem. A physician can prescribe Fentanyl and other opioids to relieve certain ailments, but it’s never safe to self-medicate with any drug. If you feel you need an outside source of help, our opioid treatment center is an effective recovery environment. We take a holistic approach to treatment, and tailor your program to your unique situation. You deserve to live a life free from Fentanyl addiction and we are here to help you start your next chapter in life. Prince’s death has served as a wakeup call for many recovering addicts, and if it has hit close to home for you, contact us to get the help you need.
