Opioid Abuse Treatment Drugs: A Solution or an Obstacle to Recovery.
LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) June 20, 2018 -- Waismann Method, one of the world’s most successful opioid detox programs, has released some sobering statistics. When comparing the number of patients in the first part of 2017 to the same months of 2018, and the drugs they seek treatment from, the center found a 233% hike in detoxification for Suboxone dependence and other buprenorphine-based medications. This rise in addiction to drugs used to treat opioid use disorder raises significant concerns.
On the surface, the idea that people are seeking treatment, including MAT, may seem like a positive trend. Opioid addiction kills 115 people in the United States each day. Anytime a substance user enters or seeks drug treatment; it should be thought of as a positive move. However, maintenance drugs such as Suboxone and Methadone does not necessarily solve the patient’s opioid dependence problems. Instead, it can prolong them.
When an opioid user enters Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) therapy, they do so under the supervision of a medical professional. Typically, the patient is given replacement drugs such as methadone or Suboxone. Although both substances are opioid narcotics, they are meant to prevent the withdrawal symptoms, illicit buying and the spread of infectious diseases - All significant considerations. People fear and try to avoid withdrawal symptoms at any cost so that MAT medications might become an immediate-attractive option. However, since these maintenance drugs are opioids themselves, when patients decide to discontinue their use they often experience similar withdrawal symptoms to those of heroin and fentanyl.
In addition to the impressive rise of patients seeking detox treatment for MAT-related medications, the team also found some other interesting statistics that align with the current trends associated with opioid addiction. The average age of patients who entered the Waismann Method Rapid Detox program in 2018 for Suboxone detoxification, was 50 years old. While this statistic is disheartening, it’s not surprising that opioid addiction in older adults is also on the rise.
Michael H. Lowenstein, M.D., is the Medical Director of Waismann Method. He noted the disastrous nature of the center's findings:
“Our goal should be to set our patients on a path towards freedom and health. We want people to enjoy a life without dependence upon any drug, and that includes Suboxone and Methadone. Our Rapid Detox treatment plan allows patients to enter life without the long-term use of additional opioid medications. The anesthesia-assisted rapid detox technique also helps patients avoid the painful and challenging effects of an opioid withdrawal.”
The Waismann Method utilizes a technique called Anesthesia Assisted Rapid Detox, and other forms of medically-assisted opioid detoxification. This medical procedure ensures a complete opioid detox, so patients can better adhere to any recovery they choose or the adequate emotional assistance they might need. Each patient is treated as an individual, and a customized treatment plan is discussed, providing the patient with the best chance of moving towards an opiate-free life.
Clare Waismann, the Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor, who founded the Waismann Method of Advanced Treatment for Opiate Dependence and Domus Retreat, also shared her thoughts:
“Substance abuse professionals finally realize that the physiology is greatly responsible for the behavior. You cannot treat addiction without a proper emotional diagnosis. Blaming the patients' character has been an unfair and destructive practice, that often brings hopelessness and consequently overdoses. We have the science and resources to provide a solution to Opioid Use Disorder, all we need are better priorities.”
As the Waismann Method team continues to combat the opioid epidemic, they also work to fight against the stigmatization of the patients they treat each day, along with the millions who suffer from drug dependence throughout the nation. According to the CDC, opioid addiction has risen 21.5% across all demographics – which means that no one is immune, regardless of race, social class, sex, or age.
About Waismann Method®
Waismann Method was founded in the late 90s, by Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor, Clare Waismann. By utilizing the most advanced available techniques, including Rapid Detox, patients find hope in the halls of the center’s full-service accredited hospital and Domus Retreat Recovery Center. Incoming patients undergo medically-assisted detox under the care of the center’s quadruple board-certified Medical Director, Dr. Michael Lowenstein, who specializes in anesthesiology, addiction medicine, and pain management. Opioid Detoxification is followed by a stay at Domus Retreat, where patients receive psychotherapy and around the clock assistance throughout the critical regulation period. The center also offers optional integrative therapies, like massage, yoga, and acupuncture, to offset the physiological and psychological symptoms of the readjustment phase, and to help set each patient up for a healthier lifestyle.
Clare Waismann, Waismann Method Opioid Treatment Specialists, https://www.opiates.com/, 800-423-2482, [email protected]
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