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Heroin is an illicit recreational drug that has no medical use. Fentanyl is a prescription drug that has a medicinal use, but it is also illegally made and sold on the streets. So, what is the difference between heroin vs fentanyl?
Both drugs have a high potential for abuse and addiction. But fentanyl is stronger than heroin. When you mix heroin with fentanyl, the combination can cause a fatal overdose. It’s so important to find a heroin detox program in Mahanoy City PA for this reason.
What Are the Side Effects of Heroin vs Fentanyl?
Fentanyl vs heroin both affect parts of the brain that sends feelings of pleasure, pain relief, and sedation. Common side effects include:
- Slowed breathing
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dry mouth and heartburn
Why Do People Take These Drugs?
People may use Fentanyl or Heroin to self-medicate, relieve stress, or get high. The high from heroin can feel like a rush, followed by sleepiness and extreme relaxation. People who use heroin enjoy an effect called “nodding,” which describes a drowsy state between consciousness and semi-consciousness.
Few people seek fentanyl on the street. Heroin is sufficient for most people to achieve the effects that they desire. However, individuals with severe opioid addictions and very high tolerances to opioids may seek heroin mixed with fentanyl to curb cravings.
Overdosing on Fentanyl
The high from fentanyl is similar if you take it in low doses. Most people overdose and pass out shortly after taking fentanyl. Depending on the purity of the drugs, Fentanyl is between 25 and 50 times stronger than heroin.
It takes a minimal dose of fentanyl for you to overdose and an even smaller dose to get high. Finding the right dose is difficult because when you buy drugs on the street, you never know the strength of the drugs that you are buying. When you mix Fentanyl and Heroin, it is nearly impossible to calculate a safe amount.
Heroin Addiction vs. Fentanyl Addiction
Heroin and Fentanyl cause dependence, tolerance, and addiction in the same way. Your brain adapts to repeated exposure by becoming dependent on the drug to function normally.
Fentanyl can quickly turn a mild heroin addiction into a severe opioid addiction. However, few people use street fentanyl as their primary drug of abuse.
Treatment for Addiction
Treatment for heroin addiction is the same as treatment for Fentanyl addiction. Heroin treatment begins with detox. Medication-assisted treatments are valuable for your recovery. They can ease opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. When combined with counseling and therapy, medication-assisted treatment can help you move beyond your addiction to these drugs.
Recovery from Fentanyl addiction may be more difficult than recovery from heroin addiction because of Fentanyl’s powerful impact on the brain. If you mix heroin and fentanyl, you may require more intensive treatment.
Getting Help for Your Addiction
Regardless of whether you are addicted to heroin vs fentanyl, or a combination of both, you can get help for your addiction at Silver Pines Treatment Center. Our heroin detox program in Mahanoy City PA offers a variety of treatments to help you overcome your addiction. To find out more about our services, call us today at 267.209.7313.
