Opiate Abuse
Genesis Medical Center
Clearly one of the deadliest and catastrophic disease epidemics in our country, opiate abuse has been increasing exponentially over the past decade. The rapid acceleration of this monstrous addiction is due, in part, to irresponsible regulatory oversight, inappropriate prescription practices, and profit-seeking development of terribly addictive pharmaceuticals. Our country finds itself in a hyper-acute emergency.
Individuals, families, and communities are being torn apart as a result of this miserable addiction. What frequently begins as a simple experimentation with prescription pills, or the inappropriate treatment of a chronic condition with powerful narcotics, may inevitably progress to a desperate and life threatening problem with high dose prescription pills or IV heroin. In some states, opiate overdose accounts for more deaths than car accidents! Methadone maintenance and Suboxone therapy can be effective for a number of individual to change their lifestyle, and allow them to emerge from terribly destitute conditions. But understandably, many individuals wish to be completely unshackled from any addictive substances or their substitutes.
At Addiction Patch Protocol, we have an absolute goal of lifelong abstinence. Once patients have completed a safe, tolerable, and assisted detoxification process, we will frequently employ a long lasting naltrexone implant that will serve to significantly reduce the constantly intrusive obsessions to use, and will physically block the action of opiates in the brain. The cravings are significantly diminished which makes it less likely to use, and if there is a lapse, the opiate drugs will not deliver any effect. Long acting naltrexone therapy combined with one-on-one counseling/recovery coaching and group support networks provides the best opportunity for successful abstinence.
FACTS
- The unprecedented rise in overdose deaths in the US parallels a 300% increase since 1999 in the sale of these strong painkillers.
- The number of ER visits for the misuse of prescription painkillers have doubled in the past 5 years.
- More than 12 million people reported using prescription painkillers non-medically in 2010
- Unintentional overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999 and now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined.
- The number of women whove died as a result of opioid pain reliever overdoses rose 415 percent between 1999 and 2010 ( 250 percent for men), according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC
- Deaths involving prescription pills have quadrupled between 1999 and 2010
- 17,000 people die from prescription opiate overdose a year in the United States. This is greater than the deaths caused by Heroin and Cocaine combined.
- 40,000 people die from drug Overdose per year. This is greater than the number of deaths caused by suicides, homicides, gun violence, and Motor Vehicle accidents. (Yes more people die in America from Drug overdose than car accidents.)
- The United States has 4.6% of the World’s population, but uses 80% of its prescription opioids, and 99% of the world’s Vicodin.
- Heroin abuse has doubled in the past decade 4 out of 5 contemporary heroin abusers started with Prescription Opioids.