Propofol is general anesthesia that is used in surgeries. This drug’s other legal use is for lethal injections during executions. It puts people into a semi coma-like state and is very quick-acting rendering people unconscious within 40 seconds. The thing is, with Propofol, unless it is continually given intravenously, a person will wake up within four or five minutes.
Why is Propofol Abused?
You can get high on Propofol. When people inject it in smaller amounts, the effects of Propofol are similar to the effects of alcohol. People will often feel giddy, lose inhibitions, feel spacey, and mellow. When Propofol is injected in therapeutic amounts, people will lose consciousness and when they wake up they will be in a euphoric state. Oddly enough, this drug is not listed as a controlled substance and not on the US government’s list of regulated drugs, making this drug highly abused by healthcare workers. This is because it is so easy to steal. People also use this to get high because Propofol does not show up in urine tests and effects only last for a few minutes.
One of the biggest dangers of using Propofol is that all it takes is just a little too much to overdose and die. Just four teaspoons are all it takes to be fatal. This drug is actually what caused the death of the famous Michael Jackson. It has been confirmed that Michael Jackson abused it to get to sleep. Ever since Jackson’s death on July 25, 2009, the abuse of Propofol has been brought into the public eye. That also means more people are experimenting with it.
Propofol Has No Antidote
Unlike most other drugs out there, Propofol does not have an antidote. This means if you overdose, no medicine will be able to bring you back. People also tend to injure themselves in falls or collapses because it is so fast-acting.
It is not still completely clear if Propofol is addictive or not. They can, however, cause withdrawal symptoms, which may include irregular or fast heartbeat, tremors, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, and a fever and a person can even remain in a delusional state for up to seven days. According to some medical professionals, the withdrawal symptoms are similar to withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
Get the Help You Need
When a person abusing Propofol finally finds the courage to enter a treatment center and get the help they need, they will go through many different steps to get themselves set up for success back in the real world. An abuser will first need to go through detoxification to rid their body of the drugs that are in their system. Once you have detoxed, the best and safest option to getting off and staying off Propofol is by the use of one of the many treatment programs we offer Garden State Treatment Center.
We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society. With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one on one, group therapy, as well as many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to avoid relapse in the real world.
Addiction isn’t an easy thing to face. Luckily you do not have to face it on your own. Our admissions counselors and professionals are available around the clock. We are ready to help you or a loved one overcome the disease of addiction. Now is the time to change your life. Let us help you do it.
Published on: 2020-08-14
Updated on: 2024-10-08
