Counterfeit Pills: A Continuing Threat to American Lives

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Allan E. Sosin, MD

As America began to see declining deaths from heroin and prescription drugs, a new threat arrived. In 2018, just as the trend of drug overdose deaths began to flatten, counterfeit pills, often containing powerful fentanyl, swept across the country. In the next few years, the number of these counterfeit pills seized by law enforcement soared. Along with this increase, the number of Americans dying from drug overdoses also soared.

When these counterfeits arrived, fentanyl wasn’t new on the illicit drug market. This potent drug, typically manufactured outside the U.S., began to be detected in 2013. It was mostly found mixed into the supplies of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. It was possible for a person using a drug they thought they knew—heroin, cocaine or meth—to be killed by an unexpected dose of fentanyl.

The arrival of counterfeit pills seems to have added a new, deadly aspect to the problem of overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration started warning the public about this problem in September of 2021. By then, overdose deaths had soared from the 2018 figure of 47,501 deaths in a 12-month period to 78,796.

It’s not possible to calculate exactly how many of these deaths were from counterfeit pills and how many were from other forms of fentanyl or other illicit drugs. Coroners typically analyze substances found in the body that caused or contributed to the death. They seldom know whether or not those drugs were consumed in pill form.

“Before coming to Narconon, I believed I was only addicted to Norcos and Somas. It wasn’t until I arrived for treatment and they drug tested me that I discovered I was being sold counterfeit pills laced with Fentanyl.... Going to Narconon, I got more than I bargained for, and the program surpassed my every expectation. I am forever grateful for Narconon.”
—C.B. Narconon Graduate

Understanding the Counterfeit Pill Market

It’s easy to grasp why drug traffickers and dealers would begin to manufacture counterfeit pills. Millions of people were already accustomed to using or abusing prescription medications. Legitimate pills like generic oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall were already being sold on the street. Young people were more likely to trust pills than a bag of unidentifiable powder sold by a dealer. Manufacturing counterfeit pills that contained their illicit poisons was a logical next step for drug traffickers.

Until just a few years ago, anyone could buy a pill press machine simply by ordering it online. Hand-operated machines weren’t even very expensive. As small packages of fentanyl began to be shipped from China to drug dealers in America, some of these small-time dealers easily obtained pill presses and colored filler powder and started stamping pills. In 2019, for example, a father and son in Warwick, Rhode Island were arrested with an electric pill-pressing machine and fake oxycodone pills.

Gradually, the Drug Enforcement Administration tightened the restrictions on the sale of pill presses. This simply meant that the individuals dealing in these drugs were more likely to be major dealers and traffickers or even drug cartels. As an example of this transition, in 2022, the DEA and FBI combined forces to put a large pill production operation out of business. In an Inglewood, California basement, six pill presses along with tens of thousands of pills were seized.

If all these counterfeit pills were essentially copies of pills made by pharmaceutical companies, the problem of their use might not be as severe as it has been in real life. However, the people manufacturing these illicit pills are not chemists or pharmacists. They are deciding how much fentanyl (or other illicit drug) to add to blue powder to make “fake M30” (generic oxycodone) pills. Or to add to white powder to make a bar of Xanax. Because they are not experts, one pill they produce in their pill press may be deadly and the next one could be relatively harmless.

As noted earlier, it’s not possible to determine exactly how many deaths have been caused by counterfeit pills. Even so, at the same time that the counterfeit pill market was exploding, the number of overdose deaths was also rocketing up. A quick look at the opioid deaths in the U.S. provides a general guide to this increase:

• December 2014, soon after fentanyl began being found on the illicit market: 28,647 deaths for the year.

• December 2018, soon after counterfeit pills began being seized: 47,399 deaths in the prior 12-month period.

• July 2023, the peak of opioid losses: 85,750 deaths due to opioids in the prior 12 months.
  
  

A Closer Look at the Substances Found in Counterfeit Pills

While fentanyl is the most prevalent drug found in counterfeit pills, it’s not the only one.

Any of the following drugs may be found in counterfeit pills:

• Xylazine: A veterinary sedative that may be obtained directly from domestic manufacturers or from overseas illicit labs.

• Illicitly manufactured benzodiazepines: Pharmaceutical benzodiazepines are legitimate sedatives like Xanax and Valium. Illicit forms include bromazolam, etizolam, and flualprazolam.

• Methamphetamine: A strong stimulant, illicit unless prescribed by a medical doctor.

• Cocaine: A powerful stimulant produced in South America and trafficked into the U.S. by major drug cartels.

• Tramadol: A prescription pain reliever that may also be manufactured and distributed illegally.

• Acetaminophen: This legal pain reliever is cheap and can be used as a filler in counterfeit pills.

• Medetomidine: This veterinary sedative may be obtained from legitimate manufacturers or from clandestine labs.

• Stimulants: Other stimulants produced in illicit labs may be found in these pills, such as amphetamine, methylphenidate, caffeine, cathinones (bath salts), ephedrine, and ecstasy.
  
  

The health effects of abusing pills with these mixed contents can be disastrous. They can include:

• Addiction
• Overdose death
• Skin ulcers that won’t heal
• Respiratory failure or arrest
• Paranoia
• Stroke
• Heart arrhythmia
• Cardiovascular collapse
• Seizures
• Liver failure
• Coma

Because these pills are completely uncontrolled, they could contain any combination of these drugs. This makes saving someone who has overdosed very difficult. Medical technicians may not know which drug is causing the worst and most life-threatening problem.

Where Are Counterfeit Pills Being Found in the U.S.?

These fake pills have been seized in every corner of the country. Seizures from the last few years include:

• Oregon: Three million counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and 390 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized.

• New York: A group of criminals based in New York, India and the Dominican Republic manufactured and sold hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills, shipping them to every state in the U.S. Nine people who bought their products died.

• Colorado: The DEA seized 2.7 million counterfeit pills in less than a year. A quarter of a million of these pills contained carfentanil, an illicit opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

• Arizona: Four million counterfeit pills were seized in one arrest at the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Washington: A series of arrests resulted in seizure of more than 230,000 counterfeit pills along with 130 pounds of fentanyl powder that could be used to make more pills.

• Louisiana: The DEA office in New Orleans announced that they had seized more than half a million pills and 613 pounds of fentanyl powder from Louisiana and surrounding states.

• Oklahoma: A single arrest in Enid resulted in seizure of 17,000 counterfeit pills that contained fentanyl.

Signs and Symptoms of Counterfeit Pill Addiction

Because there are so many different drugs found in these pills, the signs and symptoms of counterfeit pill addiction can vary greatly. The situation becomes even more confusing when multiple drugs are combined into one counterfeit pill.

Addiction to any drug includes an increased tolerance to the drug. That means that larger doses of the addictive substance are needed to get the effect the user wants. Addiction also means that a person will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop using the drug they are addicted to.

Once a person is addicted to these typical contents of counterfeit pills, they may show the following signs:

• Fentanyl: Drowsiness, constricted pupils, slowed breathing, confusion, nausea, mood swings, anxiety, depression, secrecy, neglecting responsibilities, and intense cravings.

• Xylazine: Irritability, anxiety, restlessness, intense emotional discomfort, fast heart rate, sweating, severe skin ulcers, abscesses, and tissue death.

• Illicitly manufactured benzodiazepines: Extreme sedation, confusion, slurred speech, memory loss, dizziness, loss of coordination, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite.

• Methamphetamine: Hyperactivity, rapid speech, dilated pupils, weight loss, dental decay, skin sores from picking, paranoia, psychosis, irritability, insomnia, memory issues.

• Cocaine: Erratic bursts of energy, dilated pupils, nasal damage, agitation, weight loss, paranoia, mood swings, and physical and mental crashes accompanied by depression, fatigue, and intense cravings.

• Tramadol: Nausea, dizziness, constipation, sweating, sedation, anxiety, mood changes, seizures.

• Medetomidine: Deep sedation, slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness.

• Stimulants: Symptoms vary but they typically include restlessness, insomnia, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, anxiety, and paranoia. Ecstasy can cause jaw clenching; cathonines can cause aggression.

Acetaminophen is not addictive but chronic, high-dose use can cause liver damage with signs like jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, and confusion.

Health Effects of Counterfeit Pill Abuse

The long-term health effects of these drugs vary greatly, because some depress various functions of the body and others stress the body by speeding it up. Anyone who abuses these drugs long-term risks serious health effects like these:

• Fentanyl: long-term respiratory problems during sleep, chronic constipation, heart strain, immune suppression, hormonal and reproductive disruption, mood disorders, greater chance of fractures.

• Xylazine: cognitive impairment, and severe skin wounds or tissue death that can become chronic or lead to amputation.

• Tramadol: seizures, sleep disturbance, liver and kidney damage, and persistent anxiety, depression, or cognitive problems.

• Medetomidine: as this is a veterinary medication, complete data about its long-term effects on humans is not yet known. It appears that it can cause stress on the heart, possible permanent damage to organs, cognitive damage and skin ulcers.

• Methamphetamine: permanent injury to the heart and brain, increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, liver, kidney, and lung damage; also persistent paranoia, hallucinations, and other psychotic symptoms.

• Cocaine: severe damage to the heart and blood vessels, increasing stroke and seizure risk resulting in brain hemorrhage; can also contribute to movement disorders and cognitive impairment that affects attention, memory, judgment, and motor control.

• Cathinones (bath salts): psychosis, high fever, abnormally fast heartbeat and other serious medical emergencies. Chronic use can also cause lasting brain and cardiovascular strain.

• Adderall and other prescription amphetamines: high blood pressure, abnormally fast heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, sleep disruption, mood instability, psychosis.

• Acetaminophen: repeated excessive use can damage the liver along with the heart and gastrointestinal system. An overdose can cause acute liver failure, which can be fatal.

Who Should Go to Rehab for Addiction to Counterfeit Pills

A person who can’t control their counterfeit pill use and whose quality of life is deteriorating needs rehab to restore their healthy, sober life.

There are several paths that lead to abuse these counterfeit pills. Some of these paths are the same ones that lead a person to addiction to legitimate prescription drugs.

• A person is prescribed medication for pain, sleeplessness, anxiety or other problem. Once they develop a tolerance, they need higher doses of the medication to ease the condition but the doctor may not increase the dosage. They turn to the street to get more pills.

• Someone starts using pills recreationally. They go from one doctor to the next, faking symptoms to get more pills supplied. Finally, they buy pills from a drug dealer.

• Pills are shared between friends but one of the friends quickly develops an insatiable craving for more. She turns to the drug dealer who once sold her marijuana and who also sells counterfeit pills.

• A teen who wants to try getting high is afraid of illicit drugs like heroin, fentanyl or cocaine. He thinks pills are safer because he thinks they are all manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. He buys pills from a friend or a dealer.

• A student wants to get his hands on Adderall which he thinks could improve his ability to study. He obtains pills from a source he contacted via social media, or from an illegal online pharmacy. Instead of real Adderall, he gets a counterfeit.

Each of these people is very likely to obtain counterfeit pills when they buy from a drug dealer. Each pill can potentially contain a fatal dose of fentanyl. Every day, a person addicted to counterfeit pills puts themselves at risk for death every time they consume one of these pills. If they can’t discontinue use of the drug by themselves, they need rehab to break free.

“I’ve been to seven rehabs and Narconon is just completely different. There are no medications in Narconon like there is in other rehabs. You don’t get put on psych drugs, sleep meds. You’re finding stuff out for yourself instead of having someone tell you what’s wrong with you.”—G.R., Narconon Graduate

What Happens During Counterfeit Pill Rehab

Rehab for pill addiction will pass through a number of phases to prepare a person to remain sober after they go home. The first step is always going to be withdrawal from the drugs they were taking. Once a person has detoxified from the substances they were abusing, they must recover from the trauma, pain and guilt of the past.

Counseling and life skills improvement must also be part of the recovery process. These services help a person build a new structure for their sober life, as they discard their addicted lifestyle. This process typically takes two to three months or more. Few people can work their way all though these changes in a short-term recovery program of just 30 days.

Counterfeit Pill Detoxification & Withdrawal

Counterfeit pills often involve more than one substance, so withdrawal from an illicitly-obtained pill can be more complicated than withdrawal from a single prescribed medication. At any moment, a person could be consuming any combination of drugs from the following list which describes the withdrawal symptoms of each drug:

• Fentanyl: Intense cravings, anxiety, insomnia, deep muscle and bone aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, goosebumps, dilated pupils, and a profound state of unease.

• Xylazine: Anxiety, irritability, restlessness, high heart rate, heavy sweating, high blood pressure. It can be severe enough to require hospitalization.

• Tramadol: Body aches, insomnia, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, tremors, restlessness, paranoia, severe anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, confusion.

• Medetomidine: Fast heartbeat, severe hypertension, heavy sweating, shaking/twitching, anxiety, restlessness, agitation, nausea/vomiting, chest pain, increasing and decreasing alertness.

• Methamphetamine: Deep fatigue, depression, increased appetite, intense cravings, insomnia, agitation, paranoia, psychosis. The acute period of withdrawal can be followed by prolonged depression, inability to feel pleasure, mood swings, and suicidal thoughts.

• Cocaine: Agitation, restlessness, depression, fatigue, unpleasant dreams, slowed movement. Cravings and depression can last months and include an increased risk of suicide.

• Cathinones and illicit stimulants: Inability to focus, fatigue, high heart rate, anxiety, headaches. A later phase of withdrawal is marked by paranoia, depression, anxiety, insomnia, tremors, intense cravings, inability to feel pleasure.

• Adderall and other prescription amphetamines: Irritability, depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, increased appetite, headaches, nightmares, trouble concentrating, body aches, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, digestive issues.

In one hospital-based study, the outcomes of 352 people exposed to counterfeit pills were analyzed. Each of these cases was thought to involve M30 pills (generic oxycodone). Eight out of ten of these cases required being admitted to the hospital, and seven out of ten needed intensive care. Two of them died.

In 233 of these cases, the user had methamphetamine in their systems. Sixty people had unknowingly consumed a type of benzodiazepine, and 18 people had consumed cocaine in their counterfeit pill. Nearly all the individuals had consumed pills that contained fentanyl. The authors of this study noted that exposure to more than one type of drug at a time complicated treatment and recovery.

A person trying to achieve sobriety after addiction to counterfeit pills may experience many adverse effects all at once. They may feel emotionally “crazy,” suffer from racing thoughts, paranoia, panic, sudden crashes, irritability, numbness, confusion, or hallucination-like experiences.

Mixing depressants like opioids or illicit benzodiazepines with stimulants can also cause blackouts and memory gaps. A person may not even understand why they feel so unlike themselves. This is especially likely when xylazine or illicit benzodiazepines are involved, because they can deepen sedation and impair memory. Rehab is an urgent necessity for a person in this situation.

Benefits of Choosing Drug-Free Counterfeit Pill Withdrawal

A person who has been through a painful, intensely uncomfortable withdrawal will dread going through this experience again. Different types of rehabs have varying approaches to addressing withdrawal. These can include:

• “Cold turkey”: This is an unsupported withdrawal with no taper (gradually reducing the drug that was consumed). This is a highly uncomfortable process and can be dangerous for people withdrawing from opioids, alcohol or benzodiazepines.

• Tapering: The drug dosage is slowly reduced. This is likely to be used when benzodiazepine or sedative addiction is involved.

• Medication-assisted treatment: Some medications like buprenorphine or methadone substitute for the opioids that were being taken and are narcotics themselves. The effect is to suppress cravings and prevent discomfort. In other situations, different medications may be given to prevent cravings or avoid a sought-after response to a drug. Acamprosate and naltrexone are used for this purpose.

• Inpatient detox: A person stays in a medical facility during withdrawal and their symptoms are monitored while the individual is medicated as needed to keep them safe. This level of care is frequently needed for alcohol withdrawal.

Holistic approaches are also possible during withdrawal from some types of drugs. If a physician determines that a person is healthy enough and if the drug they are withdrawing from does not require medical support, there are many ways that the aches and stress of withdrawal can be eased with drug-free methods. Nutritional support can ease a body’s aches and cramps. Relaxation and orientation exercises can help calm a person’s mind and emotional state. Starting out drug-free gives a person a good head start on their sober future.

Narconon’s Worldwide Mission

The Narconon network of drug rehab centers was founded in 1966 to provide holistic, drug-free recovery to those addicted to all types of drugs. By following the researches and discoveries of American humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, this program developed a method of supporting a drug-free withdrawal, addressing cravings and building sober living skills. In the last six decades, tens of thousands of individuals have found sobriety after graduation from this program.

Every time a person learns how to live sober and honest, their whole family recovers right along with them. Their community can welcome back a member who is now honest and free from drug or alcohol abuse.

Additionally, those who obtain counterfeit drugs are supporting the entire destructive network of drug cartels, drug traffickers and dealers. When individuals recover, the crimes committed to obtain funds for drugs disappear. Drug dealers lose their customers. Benefits extend far beyond the individual.

The Narconon network of more than 30 rehab facilities has always been a non-profit, public benefit organization. While Mr. Hubbard was the founder of the Scientology religion, the Narconon program is fully non-religious. Narconon rehabs are located in locations as diverse as Italy, England, Nepal and Taiwan.

Beginning the Drug-Free Narconon Rehab Program

For a person who has been through other drug rehab programs, they will find this one quite different. After a medical evaluation to determine if they need the heightened support of a medical detoxification program, each person goes through a well-supported drug-free withdrawal. Close monitoring around the clock, generous nutritional supplementation and one-on-one work with staff makes this withdrawal far more tolerable than any the person has been through before.

As soon as this is done, each person begins the steps of the Narconon drug rehab program. The first step is the innovative New Life Detoxification. A combination of time sweating in a sauna, moderate exercise and nutritional supplementation enhances the ability of the body to flush out toxins. This process is based on Mr. Hubbard’s researches as he sought a way to alleviate the harmful spiritual, mental and physical effects of drug and alcohol use.

Many people completing this step note that they experience a brighter and more positive outlook. Some even state that their intense cravings for drugs are alleviated. This is an excellent way to start a new sober life.

“The program completely removed my cravings. More than anything, it put in my head that there is a lot more to life than just drugs. I can hang out with people without using drugs, and I can deal with life. It’s a pretty cool feeling.”—A.M., Narconon Graduate

What Sets Narconon Apart from Other Rehab Programs?

In the United States, there are close to 20,000 substance use recovery programs. Many of these programs incorporate the use of medications into their programs. They may offer methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone to those recovering from addiction to pills that contain opioids. Those addicted to other types of drugs may receive bupropion, clonidine, or modafinil. The Narconon program does not include drugs as part of its program recommendations, though, of course, medications needed for health reasons are continued as recommended by a person’s doctor.

In addition, the Narconon program addresses each layer of devastation created by addiction. First, participants complete the New Life Detoxification, a holistic program designed to support the body's natural detoxification processes following drug use. Then they learn how to construct and maintain a productive, sober life based on their own personal values and morals. This combination is unique to the Narconon program.

Six Decades of Experience

This drug-free pattern has formed the successful foundation of the Narconon program since its founding in 1966. The program’s long history has shown that it is possible to recover from addiction without medications. The Narconon philosophy has supported the growth of the network from one center in Los Angeles to more than 30 facilities in all corners of the world.

In addition to providing drug rehabilitation services, Narconon also provides public education materials and has reached millions of individuals with drug abuse prevention classes.

After these six decades, the success of Narconon graduates has provided convincing evidence that lasting sobriety is possible. The process starts with a thorough cleansing of the body and continues with exercise to brighten perceptions and increase self-control, and wraps up with targeted life skills training.

An Innovative Rehab Methodology

Six decades of experience have also revealed that three aspects of an addicted life must be effectively addressed for sobriety to last:

• Guilt
• Cravings
• Depression

Each person who has struggled through years or even decades of addiction knows that they have harmed themselves and others. They know they have sacrificed the welfare of their families and wasted money and opportunities. Their guilt is a heavy burden. It must be relieved for them to give themselves a chance at a better life.

Cravings come from both physical and mental sources. The body adjusts to the presence of the drugs in counterfeit pills and when drug use ends, physical cravings can be torturous. The individual may also rely on these fake pills to ease their pain and anxiety and so may suffer mental cravings for them.

Depression also plagues a person who knows that they abandoned their goals, health, business, friends and family while they struggled with addiction. The Narconon program is carefully planned to relieve each of these factors that trap a person in addiction.

“Over 32 years of drug use, I went through 15 different rehab programs. None of them worked. None even got me to the point where I wanted to stop using drugs. Narconon was my last program, and now I’ve been clean for seven years. Before I came in, I had no hope. I figured I would die in the gutter, a drug addict, and that’s the dead-honest truth. This place turned my life around. It’s so effective, I can’t even begin to tell you how effective it is.”—M.S., Narconon Graduate

Residential vs. Outpatient Counterfeit Pill Rehab

Stable recovery from counterfeit pill addiction in an outpatient drug rehab can be incredibly challenging. In a person’s immediate environment, there can be drug dealers and drug-using friends. There may be no strong source of support when a person feels vulnerable. Being in the supportive, around-the-clock environment of a residential drug rehab can be the key to success for many.

Benefits of a Long-Term Residential Counterfeit Pill Rehab

To provide a higher likelihood of success, a residential counterfeit pill rehab offers these benefits:

• Around the clock supervision, support and monitoring of activities and health
• A protective environment away from drug users, dealers and pills
• No access to drugs or alcohol
• A fresh, new environment away from one’s usual triggers and upsets
• An opportunity to focus fully on learning sober living skills
• Being surrounded day and night by others who are making the same progress and improvements
• Enough time to make fundamental changes in one’s addicted lifestyle

How to Choose the Right Rehab for Counterfeit Pill Addiction

When you are searching for the right rehab program for someone who is addicted to counterfeit pills, get the answers to these questions.

1. Is it a short-term program or a long-term program? Many programs have a term of about 30 days. When addiction has lasted for many months or years, it takes time to break free from the addicted mindset. Each person must recover from the guilt and depression that has plagued them for months or years. These changes take time, very often longer than the 30 days of many short-term programs. Getting the right result is the only thing that is important—the individual must achieve the ability and skills to create a new, sober life.
   
   
2. Are the person’s cravings for more counterfeit pills covered up with more drugs? Some drug rehabs not only prescribe drugs to suppress cravings, they recommend the continuation of these drugs for months or years after rehab is done. The six decades of success of the Narconon program have shown that a drug-free recovery can result in lasting sobriety.
   
   
3. Do the program’s principles include the concept that addiction is a “chronic, relapsing disease?” This is the basic philosophy of many, many drug rehabs. However, this principle doesn’t sit well with every person going through rehab. Some people believe that they have the power to overcome addiction. They don’t necessarily agree that they are powerless over their addiction. At Narconon, the basic philosophy is that each person can recover from addiction and, in fact, leave addiction far behind. Instead, the focus is using practical methods to relieve guilt and depression and strengthen life skills.
   
   
4. Does the program offer a method of relieving the intense cravings for more counterfeit pills? When a person struggles every day with cravings, they may be forced to face “one day at a time.” The Narconon program is engineered to bring about fundamental changes that mean that a person can finally take control of their future. That’s what can happen when cravings are alleviated and a person gains the sober living skills that support them in that future.
   
   
5. Are vital life skills gained during this program? Are they chosen specifically for the needs of a person who is in recovery? The life skills component of the Narconon program has been designed to provide the exact abilities a person needs to preserve their sobriety. The fundamental understandings that support these skills are taught first, then the practical skills are applied to begin repairing each person’s life.
   
   
6. Is there nutritional support provided to ease the effects and damage of an addicted life? Someone who was using counterfeit drugs could have been consuming opioids, stimulants or unknown formulas. These substances are incredibly destructive to the health of the heart, liver, brain, kidneys and other organs. At a Narconon rehab, generous doses of vitamins and minerals provide physical calming and repair, while supporting better emotional health.
   
   
7. What is the result anticipated at the end of this drug rehab program? The entire intention of the Narconon drug rehab program is to restore a person’s ability to enjoy a productive, drug-free life after rehab. This accomplishment is supported by two years of monitoring by a Narconon Graduate Officer who can review life skills training and provide encouragement and advice for each graduate. This is an important part of the success of the Narconon program.
   
   
8. What is considered success after the rehab program? Because the Narconon program is designed to address the chains that keep a person addicted, the expected success after graduation is that each person uses the skills they learned to stay fully sober. The way this program addresses the guilt, cravings and depression of addiction means that each person has an excellent chance of success after graduation. The Narconon Graduate Officer further supports their success with two years of calls to encourage use of everything they learned while at the rehab.
   

Ask these questions of a Narconon representative and you can learn about this program that has helped tens of thousands of graduates learn the skills they need to stay sober.

“I went through several state-mandated drug rehab programs before enrolling in the Narconon program. I found Narconon to be far more effective and impactful than the others.”—J.B., Narconon Graduate

“The program is unique and comprehensive. The New Life Detoxification addresses cravings, and the courses teach life skills and ethics. I saw my son transform throughout the program. He gained weight, he looked good and his communication skills greatly improved. But the most significant success for me was that he finally took responsibility for his condition.

“Not only did my son get his life back, but I got my life back too. I would recommend Narconon to anyone without hesitation.”—D.B., Mother of Narconon Graduate

The Difference Between Narconon and Other Drug Rehabs

From the very beginning, the Narconon program has been based on the unique principle that addiction can be overcome. A formerly addicted person can, with the right program, go on to lead a productive and sober life. It is not necessary to believe that they will “always be an addict” for them to succeed. They also do not need to believe that their addiction is “an incurable brain disease.” Six decades of success at Narconon rehabs are evidence that lasting sobriety is achievable if the guilt, cravings and depression that accompany addiction are properly addressed.

Unlike thousands of other drug rehabs, no drugs are ever recommended as part of this rehab program (however, medical drugs for physical conditions are, of course, continued). This unique, drug-free approach guides each person through the development of the abilities they need to resist negative influences in their environment.

When you are choosing a drug rehab for a loved one who is addicted to counterfeit pills, learn about the Narconon program and how it offers a lasting solution to addiction.

How the Narconon Program Creates Lasting Sobriety

This thorough program that typically takes 10 to 12 weeks to complete has four phases.

1. Drug-free Withdrawal: A person who has been consuming counterfeit pills is well-supported as they withdraw from the toxic mix found in these pills. Nutritional supplements begin to balance and heal the body’s deficiencies. One-on-one work with staff helps keep each person oriented and relaxed. Even at this early stage, each person begins to learn how to increase their own self-control.
   
   
2. New Life Detoxification: This is a very key step in each person’s recovery. Drug abuse leaves behind residues called “metabolites.” They can remain in a person’s body for years after drug use stops. These residues can continue to influence a person’s thinking and cravings as long as they are present. The New Life Detoxification is a unique method of flushing them out.
   
   
3. Objectives: These innovative exercises gradually free a person from the past and help them focus on the present. This improvement is essential to help each person recover from the trauma of their past addiction.
   
   
4. Life Skills Training: Specific skills are needed to navigate future challenges and repair the damage of the past. These skills are taught and then practiced during Narconon life skills training.
   
   

Call now for a confidential conversation to find out how quickly your loved one can get started on the Narconon rehab program.

Narconon’s Comprehensive Drug-Free Counterfeit Pill Rehab Process

A person with a habit of abusing counterfeit pills is following a very dangerous path. They never know how much of any drug is in each pill. They don’t know if it is a fatal dose. They don’t know what combination of drugs awaits them when they smoke, swallow or inject each pill. Breaking free from the cravings for more drugs and from a dependence on these substances could be the change that saves their life.

To help them recover from the compulsion to use counterfeit pills, the Narconon program guides each person through these four phases of their recovery.

Before beginning care in the Narconon Withdrawal Unit, a thorough medical examination by a medical doctor is required. If this professional determines that the individual needs the close support of a medical detox, the individual will be referred to a medical facility. At the completion of the medically-supported detox, they can begin the Narconon program. This is especially important due to the mixture of drugs often found in counterfeit pills.

These are the four phases of the Narconon rehab program.

1. Drug-free withdrawal: From the very first hour, nutritional supplements like B vitamins, calcium and magnesium begin to calm the anxiety and mood swings that can occur during withdrawal. Special exercises help each person relax and orient themselves to their new, safe surroundings. Close attention by staff tracks vital signs, food, sleep and water.
   
   
2. New Life Detoxification: When the drug-free withdrawal is complete, the New Life Detoxification can be begun. Years of drug use leave a burden of residual toxins in each person’s body. Flushing these out is an unmistakable turning point for each person. As toxins are eliminated, one’s native brightness tends to return.Their outlook on the future can become more positive. Many say that their hair and skin even look healthier. Every day, they are given a carefully-planned regimen of vitamins, minerals and healthy oils to activate detoxification. They exercise moderately and then spend time in a low-heat sauna. Many people say that their intense cravings finally ease as they complete this process. This is a turning point that gives a person their best chance at lasting sobriety.
   
   
3. The Objectives: Anyone around an addicted person can easily see that their perceptions are no longer sharp and accurate. To a greater or lesser degree, they lose touch with the present time and cannot even perceive their own need for help. The Objectives are an innovative method of restoring the ability to perceive the present environment. Along with this ability comes greater self-control. As a person's focus comes out of the past and into the present, disturbing memories and pain fade away. A series of carefully supervised exercises restores this ability to survive in the present rather than being trapped in the past.
   
   
4. Life Skills Training: At this point, a person is ready to recover their personal integrity and learn to deal with negative influences and day-to-day challenges. Step by step, this life skills training walks them through the education they will need in their future, sober lives. First, there is an education on the skills that will be needed and why they are essential. Next, they learn the practical steps involved in each skill. Gradually, each person gets these new skills under their belt—skills that will be invaluable after they go home. There are three of these courses:
   
   
   • Overcoming Ups & Downs in Life Course: This is where each person learns to identify negative influences that might derail their sobriety. They learn how to deal with drug dealers, drug-using friends and other troublesome sources. It can become much easier to choose safe and helpful friends and associates.
     
     
   • Personal Values Course: In the course of addiction, one’s personal values and integrity are typically muddied. Each person on this course learns about the most important values that guide one through life and how they can be destroyed during addiction. The student of this course also learns how to restore and maintain their self-respect, an essential step forward on their recovery.
     
     
• Changing Conditions in Life Course: To repair relationships and overcome day-to-day challenges, it’s vital to know how to solve problems and improve situations. This course teaches easy-to-apply formulas that enable students to improve any area of life.

Graduate Aftercare: Their care is not complete when they graduate the Narconon rehab program. There will be future upsets and challenges to be navigated. The Narconon Graduate Officer follows up with each graduate to ensure they are applying their life skills and to offer support and encouragement. It’s also important that each person follows the post-graduate plan developed at the end of their rehab program. This follow-up is an important part of the success of the Narconon program.

Relieving the “Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome"

A person consuming counterfeit pills is exposed to an unpredictable mixture every day. This complex mixture is likely to increase the risk of post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). What this means is that after their acute or short-term withdrawal, it is likely that they could suffer lingering, troublesome symptoms that last many months.

These prolonged symptoms can include insomnia, mood swings, cognitive fog, and cravings. The cause of this lengthy struggle is the adaptation of the brain and nervous system to the effects of opioids like fentanyl, sedatives like xylazine, benzodiazepines like etizolam, and stimulants like methamphetamine and amphetamines.

The multiple dependencies resulting from this complex mix can cause layered withdrawals. Each person may struggle with overlapping symptoms like these:

• Fatigue
• Inability to experience pleasure
• Panic
• Seizure risk
• Depression
• Overwhelming tiredness and sleepiness during the day

These symptoms are not typically life‑threatening but can strongly increase relapse risk because the fatigue, panic and inability to feel pleasure for so long can be discouraging. The Narconon rehab program specifically addresses these symptoms. The innovative New Life Detoxification can finally provide improvement in these lingering problems. When this relief has been achieved, the future looks brighter and real recovery finally comes within reach.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drug Rehab and Recovery

Do you have questions about rehab after counterfeit pill addiction? The most frequently-asked questions are answered here.

How to tell if you or someone you care about is addicted to counterfeit pills.

Because of the complex mixture of drugs in each pill, it may be difficult to determine whether or not they are addicted based solely on the symptoms caused by each drug. When a person becomes addicted to counterfeit pills, they are likely to suffer a gradual deterioration of mood, health, and general quality of life. They may also become secretive and hostile. They may be missing at times and refuse to admit where they have been. It may be discovered that they are telling lies about where they have been or what they have been doing.

A person struggling with multiple changes like these is likely to be suffering from addiction. If counterfeit pills are also found in their possession, that should provide you with an answer.

What is the difference between tolerance and addiction to counterfeit pills?

Tolerance means that a body becomes used to the presence of a particular drug. A dosage of a drug that previously relieved pain or got a person high will no longer do so. The user needs more of the drug to get the effect they are looking for. When a person becomes addicted, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they quit using the drug, and they have developed a mental or emotional dependence on the drug. They also continue to use the drug despite the harm being experienced, plus their life has deteriorated in many ways. Most people find it much harder to quit using a drug when they have become addicted.

Why does a person addicted to counterfeit pills need to go to rehab?

A counterfeit pill mix of opioids, stimulants, MDMA (ecstasy), xylazine, and illicit sedatives can create an intensely confusing effect on the brain and body. The individual may feel disoriented unstable, paranoid, numb and “out of it.” They could also feel panicky, wired, or detached, in quick succession. Rehab provides the stability they need to recover after this confusing, traumatic experience.

Can drug rehab really cure addiction to counterfeit pills?

Some rehabilitation professionals claim that addiction is a lifelong curse, that every addicted person will “always be an addict.” Six decades of experience and tens of thousands of Narconon graduates have shown that addiction can be overcome. An inpatient or residential rehab can provide the around-the-clock support and supervision that a person needs at this time. There is definitely hope of recovery from addiction for each person addicted to counterfeit pills.

As a family member, what is your role in your loved one’s recovery?

From choosing a drug rehab to welcoming a person home, your support is essential. Even when an addicted person wants help, they are typically unable to complete the challenging task of choosing a rehab and arriving at its front door. Your support can help them cross this gap between need and arrival. And then once they are through the program, your encouragement and even gentle monitoring can continue to play an important role in your loved one’s recovery. You can help them choose the right events to attend and how soon to resume normal social activities. You and the rest of the family can provide enormous support by creating a safe, drug-free environment as your loved one settles back into everyday life.

How long does rehab for counterfeit drug addiction take?

The Narconon rehab program takes most people 10 to 12 weeks to complete. Some people take longer to achieve the improvements needed to help them stay sober after they go home. If they require more time, there is no additional charge to complete the program.

How can you choose the best counterfeit pill rehab?

A counterfeit pill addiction can be a complex problem to repair. It is best to find a long-term and residential drug rehab program for your loved one so that they have the time and the support they need to fully recover. A holistic rehab program will address the whole person and their life for a chance to fully recover from the harm they have suffered.

Addiction results in a heavy burden of guilt, cravings and depression. These three factors must be relieved if a person can enjoy a sober, productive life after rehab. Ask anyone you speak to about a rehab program how these factors are addressed. If the rehab’s solution relies on medicating your loved one, you should realize that there are other, drug-free options available for their recovery. Relief from cravings and adequate life skills training might make medications unnecessary.

How can you help prevent a relapse when counterfeit pill rehab is done?

For most people completing rehab, it takes some time for them to fully reintegrate into their former lives. They may need to focus on restoring relationships and carefully making all the new decisions they are faced with. Many people will need new sober friends or to repair relationships with the friends they had before addiction took over. They often need to avoid parts of town they frequented while using drugs, and they definitely need to shun those who are using counterfeit pills or other drugs. You can help your loved one by supporting them as they go through this reintegration process. You can also encourage them to use the life skills they learned in rehab. These are essential to keep them safe as they meet life’s challenges.

Does health insurance typically cover the cost of the Narconon drug rehab?

The flat rate fee structure of the Narconon program allows a person to continue on the steps until they have fully and thoroughly completed every step. There are no additional fees if a person takes longer than average to gain the skills they need. While Narconon accepts most PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) insurance policies, that might not be an option available to you. Contact Narconon and talk to an experienced and caring staff member who will work with you to find a financial solution for your loved one.

How to Take the First Step in Counterfeit Pill Recovery?

Simply talk to a Narconon representative and get all your questions answered about addiction and recovery. Learn more about this innovative program that has helped tens of thousands of people leave addiction to counterfeit pills far behind.

Here, the goal is for each person to go home fully capable of remaining drug-free. By addressing cravings with the New Life Detoxification and teaching strong sober living skills, the Narconon program can be your loved one’s route to stable, drug-free and lasting sobriety.

“I arrived at Narconon and I felt very comfortable. The people were very nice and were all pretty cool. They were there to help. That you could feel. No matter what happened, they would get me through. It’s a kind of care you couldn’t find anywhere else. They care about you as a person and want you to get well.”—Y.S., Narconon Graduate

Get Support and Access to Valuable Resources Now.

What information do you need so you can help a loved one who is addicted to counterfeit pills? Call Narconon now for a confidential conversation with an Intake Specialist.

Final Thoughts: Counterfeit Pills Offer False Solutions

The crucial component of freedom from drugs is having a reality that manages existence without the need for drugs. Drugs create an apparency of value, which can be very convincing and progressively more necessary. The effect is misleading. It seems the drugs provide answers that were not available without them. Those answers are lies. They don't work. They create a delusion of benefit for the person using them while others see his deficiencies and degradation.

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