In 2021, drug overdose deaths involving xylazine were highest in Region 3 of the United States, which includes West Virginia. One in every 25,000 West Virginians lost their lives to an overdose involving xylazine. The average rate for the United States as a whole is 1 in every 100,000 people.
Xylazine is a concern in our communities. Trends show it’s only becoming more relevant each year, too. Because we’re still learning a lot about xylazine, clear treatment options are hard to find. That’s why we offer xylazine addiction treatment at Wolf Creek Recovery. We know West Virginians need it, and everyone using xylazine illicitly deserves recovery. That includes you.
What We Treat: Xylazine Addiction
We don’t have to tell you how devastating addiction is. Since you’re on this page, xylazine has likely already done damage to your life. You might be scared, or frustrated, or feel completely hopeless. At Wolf Creek, we understand those feelings wholeheartedly. Our staff is in recovery too, and we’ve been where you are. We can also confidently tell you that there’s hope. Healing is possible for you and your family, and we want to help you find it.
How We Treat: What to Expect From Xylazine Rehab With Wolf Creek
Treatment can seem intimidating. We know the questions probably running through your mind right now: “Will I have to stay somewhere that feels like a hospital 24/7?” “Is there even a point in going to therapy during the day if I’ll just be getting home to the same triggering environment in the end?” “Will the staff know what they’re doing and be able to help?” Thankfully, Wolf Creek has the answers to those questions, too.
Wolf Creek provides housing to everyone in treatment with us. That means you’ll come to our facility during the day to establish the foundation for recovery through therapy and return to a safe, supportive environment at night to make sure that the foundation stands firm. We encourage you to stay with us as long as you can. Every day in treatment strengthens that foundation and gives you the materials you need to build a life you love.
Your next question is probably what you’ll be doing in treatment, and we’re happy to answer that too. Wolf Creek offers several healing activities you’ll be able to participate in, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and family therapy. You’ll also get to experience the great outdoors through paddleboarding, camping, canoeing, and team sports.
Continuing Care After Treatment
We’re not here to get you in and out the door as quickly as possible. We’re here to equip you with all the tools you need to achieve lasting recovery, no matter how long that takes. Contact us and ask about our extended care program, which is highly customized to each individual.
How Wolf Creek Is Better Than Traditional Residential and Outpatient Rehab
You might have heard of residential rehab and outpatient programs. Wolf Creek offers something a little different: our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) with housing. That means we provide supportive housing for you while you’re in treatment with us. You’ll come to our facility during the day for comprehensive therapy, then return to your temporary home at the end of the day. This gives you a safe environment like a residential program would, but still acts like an outpatient program, where you don’t have round-the-clock supervision. This can work especially well for those who need a place away from the triggers of home, or who are in search of new housing options while in treatment.
What Is Xylazine? The Truth Behind “Tranq”
Xylazine, sometimes referred to as “tranq,” is a tranquilizer that is FDA-approved for use in animals – not in humans. It’s most commonly found mixed with other substances, like cocaine, heroin, and especially fentanyl. Xylazine is said to make the “high” of fentanyl last longer. It’s also readily available, making it an ideal substance for illicit drug suppliers to “cut” substances with, and a rising threat to the health of people with substance use disorders.
Dangers of Xylazine Addiction and Its Relationship With Fentanyl
Xylazine can cause slow heart rate, extreme blood pressure fluctuations, irregular heartbeat, loss of control of your body, tiredness, slurred speech, and slowed breathing. It can also cause open wounds and sores on your skin, even if you don’t inject the substance. Early evidence suggests people who take both xylazine and fentanyl are at higher risk of overdosing than people who take fentanyl alone, too. People who take both fentanyl and xylazine tend to experience worse withdrawal symptoms also, making the cycle of addiction even more painful.
Risk Factors for Xylazine Addiction: Exposure and Emotional Pain
The risk factors for xylazine are the same as the risk factors for any other substance use disorder. They include:
- Family history of addiction
- Exposure to xylazine at a young age
- People around you using xylazine
- Undiagnosed mental health conditions
- Trauma
- Stress
How to Know if It’s Time to Seek Treatment for Xylazine Addiction
Let’s be clear: there’s never a bad time to seek treatment for a substance use disorder. Habitually using substances like xylazine outside of their intended purpose is a good enough reason to seek treatment. Here are some other reasons to consider getting help for a substance use disorder:
- You crave the substance
- You experience withdrawals when you don’t take the substance
- You dedicate a lot of time to acquiring, using, or thinking about the substance
- You continue taking the substance despite the negative consequences it’s had on your life
- You take more of the substance than you intend to and feel like you can’t stop taking it
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to seriously examine the role of xylazine in your life, and consider that you might have a substance use disorder.
Start Your Recovery Journey With Wolf Creek Recovery in Arizona Today
Whether it’s for yourself or someone else, we encourage you to take the next step toward recovery and get in touch with Wolf Creek. We’d love to help.
Wolf Creek Recovery, located in Prescott, Arizona, treats a variety of substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Honesty, integrity, respect, compassion, commitment, and courage are at the core of everything we do. We aspire to embody these qualities, and we hope to inspire them in the people we work with. Those qualities are the foundation for lasting recovery and building a life you love. Call us at 1-833-732-8202 to get started.
