Facts
About Opiate Addiction
According to
the National Institute for Drug Abuse, there are more than 1 million
opiate addicts in the United States and that number is rising. Some
of the reasons include the large number of Americans, from baby
boomers to the elderly, who are getting hooked on pain medication
for chronic pain.
Oxycontin, a potent painkiller
that health authorities say is increasingly abused, is also playing
a role. Overall use of the drug rose by 140% last year, according
to a recent federal survey on drug use.
Popular alternative
treatment methods, such as methadone clinics, have significant drawbacks.
For one, the number of Americans seeking methadone treatment far
exceeds the number of openings at government-approved treatment
clinics. As a result, most clinics have long waiting lists. What's
more, methadone takes nearly a month to clear the addict's system,
compared with a week to 10 days for other opiates, including heroin.
Times Have
Changed
Traditionally,
opiate dependency has been treated as a psychological disorder.
However, times have changed. Recognizing opiate dependency as a
reversible medical disorder was the first step in developing effective
treatments. The medical community is realizing that opiate dependency
is a central nervous system disorder caused by continuous opiate
intake.
After prolonged
opiate use, the nerve cells in the brain, which would otherwise
produce endogenous opiates (natural painkillers, or endorphins),
cease to function normally. The body stops producing endorphins
because it is receiving opiates instead. The degeneration of these
nerve cells results in the user's physical dependency to an external
supply of opiates. Abrupt or sudden abstinence from opiates induces
yet another traumatic disorder - withdrawal syndrome.
Opiate Withdrawal
The withdrawal
syndrome is a long and painful process, which can result in permanent
damage to the cardiopulmonary system and the central nervous system.
Untreated and unmonitored, it can result in death for unhealthy
patients. For these reasons, opiate dependency treatment requires
appropriate and responsible medical care.
More
Information
For
more information about rapid detoxification with Accelerated
Neuro-Regulation, please fill out our confidential online contact
form.
