More commonly known as benzo fury, benzofurans are a concerning substance that is prone to abuse and may lead individuals who use it to develop an addiction. Prolonged use of benzo fury compounds can have lasting physical and psychological health impacts on individuals who consume them.
Fortunately, centers such as Desert Cove’s Arizona drug rehab facility are adept at treating patients suffering from addiction to traditional benzodiazepines and benzo fury. Below, we explain what benzo fury compounds are, how they work, and why the use of these substances is a significant concern.
By learning more about this dangerous substance, you can better understand the signs and symptoms of benzo fury substance use disorders.
When Did Benzofurans Emerge?
Benzofurans can be linked back to the early 1990s.1 They were developed for use as “therapy-enabling” drugs and antidepressants. However, they were determined to be unsuitable for these applications.
Benzo fury compounds are distributed in many different forms. Most commonly, benzofuran is sold as one of the following:
- Tan powder
- White powder
- Pellets
- Gel capsules
- Pills
Benzofuran compounds are considered to be a new psychoactive substance.2 People often use these substances as an alternative to amphetamines and other psychostimulants.
How They Work
Benzo fury compounds are often consumed orally. Individuals using the substance will typically swallow the capsule, pellet, or pill. If consuming a powdered form of benzo fury, individuals may mix the substance in a drink or wrap the powder in cigarette papers. Individuals may also snort the powder form.
The onset of the high the person feels will vary depending on several factors. An individual’s metabolism and the method of consumption typically have the most influence over the onset timetable. However, most individuals begin to experience symptoms within a few minutes of consumption.
Benzo fury has similar effects as methamphetamine and psychostimulants like ecstasy. The exact effects will vary from person to person. The dosage quantity will also impact what effects a person experiences.
Most individuals using benzo fury will experience symptoms such as:
- Euphoria
- Excitement
- Increased energy
- Empathy
- Auditory hallucinations
- Visual hallucinations
- Palpitations
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Increased blood pressure
These effects are usually most profound approximately 2-3 hours after the individual consumes benzo fury1. The effects will remain at this peak for 3-4 hours. Individuals may experience benzo fury effects for as long as 24 hours after consuming the substance.
Why Benzofuran Use Is a Concern
Like any illegal stimulant, benzofuran can pose short and long-term risks to individuals who consume it. In the short-term, individuals suffering from addiction to this dangerous substance may experience symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Elevated heart rate
- Profuse sweating
- An inability to sleep
- Restlessness
- Hallucinations
In addition to these effects, individuals who use benzo fury may experience lethargy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms for a few days after using the substance. These feelings will typically subside within a couple of days. However, frequent use of the substance can prolong these effects and result in chronic feelings of fatigue.
Long-term use can have lasting consequences. Individuals who continuously use benzo fury may ultimately develop a dependency on the substance. This means that they will need to take larger doses to achieve the euphoric feelings they experienced during their initial usage.
Over time, individuals suffering from benzo fury addiction may also experience liver damage. Depending on the length of usage, this damage has the potential to be irreversible.
Benzofuran use can cause long-term mental effects as well. Individuals experiencing addiction to this dangerous substance may eventually experience memory issues, paranoia, and an inability to concentrate. Other lasting consequences might include short-term memory loss.
Turn to an Arizona Drug Rehab for Addiction Recovery
Are you or a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder? Would you like to start your journey to lasting recovery by partnering with an Arizona drug rehab facility that offers benzodiazepine addiction treatment? Want to overcome the challenges of substance use disorders in a tranquil environment?
If so, then Desert Cove Recovery’s Arizona drug rehab facility is here to help. Our team leverages cutting-edge techniques and traditional therapeutic interventions to lay the foundation for lasting recovery.
To learn more, contact our Arizona drug rehab center today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugwise.org.uk/benzo-fury/ [2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30723925/