02 Nov Extinguishing the Fires of the Opioid Epidemic…Right Now
In the Throes of an Opioid Epidemic
It may come as no surprise to you that the United States is now in the throes of an opioid epidemic. Perhaps you or someone you know – a neighbor, a friend, significant other or relative – has had a near-death experience with a drug overdose. For millions of Americans, grieving over the drug-related deaths of loved ones has unfortunately become a common scenario on our TV screens and news articles as the death toll from opioid overdoses has climbed to exceed that of car accidents, guns, and the HIV epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin overdoses tripled from 8% in 2010 to 25% in 2015. CNN reports that in 2015, according to the International Narcotics Control Board, Americans represented about 99.7% of the world’s consumption of hydrocodone, more commonly known as Vicodin, which is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain.
Why has the opioid crisis emerged so quickly?
It’s almost impossible to single out one reason why the crisis is accelerating at such an alarming rate, but aside from availability of recreational illicit drugs on the streets, prescription opioids for major injuries and physical pain have been a primary contributor to the emerging epidemic. When you think “drug use” or “drug abuse,” the picture that pops into mind is that of a young person taking a drag or shooting drugs. You’re probably not picturing an elderly lady receiving prescription opioids from her doctor to treat chronic pain for arthritis or the professional athlete taking pain killers for a major injury. Since the latter scenarios occur under the supervision of a primary care physician, most people have not given it a second thought that someone’s grandmother or son could suffer from opiate withdrawals after their primary care physicians stop prescribing these medications. In many cases, what started out innocently turns into an indirect cause for addiction to heroin, the drug of choice for those who can’t gain access to prescription analgesics.
What is being done about the opioid epidemic?
On October 26, 2017, President Donald Trump declared the Opioid Epidemic as a “public health emergency,” which is not quite the same as a national emergency. A public health emergency releases some governmental funds to be directed toward addiction recovery treatment, whereas a declaration of a national emergency would release funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be re-allocated from natural disaster relief to substance abuse treatment and recovery.
What can we do as a community to fight the opioid crisis?
As responsible citizens of society, we can do our part to fight the epidemic by taking any of the following steps:
• Remove stigma by raising awareness about dual diagnosis programs that specialize in evidence-based opioid treatment and behavioral therapy
• Refer loved ones to a dual diagnosis treatment center like New Method Wellness
• Get involved in your loved one’s recovery by working together with the Outreach Coordinator and clinical team of addiction psychiatrists
• Participate in individual and/or family counseling sessions to learn more about substance abuse issues and how they impact your daily life and relationships
• Explore various adjunct holistic programs that sustain long-lasting recovery
What is New Method Wellness doing to ensure quality care in opioid treatment?
New Method Wellness is a premier dual diagnosis addiction treatment center based in South Orange County. With six beautiful luxury homes in scenic towns like San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point, New Method Wellness provides unparalleled levels of quality care in the treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Every client is matched with two addiction therapists to deliver the best outcome possible; New Method Wellness is accredited by both CARF International and the Joint Commission, which demonstrates commitment to ethics, integrity and value for accountability. Noted for the effectiveness of its programs, New Method Wellness has received nationwide recognition on Dr. Phil and the Emmy-nominated A & E’s Intervention.
To learn more, contact New Method Wellness at (866) 951-1824 and speak with an Outreach Coordinator today!