Blog Archives

Addiction and Dependence, What’s the Difference?

Have you ever wondered, “What is the difference between addiction and dependence?”

Often groups will be at fault for using the words interchangeably as if they mean the same thing, but they do not, and unfortunately, it only adds to the confusion. These words have two different definitions and require two different types of treatment, but first, we have to define them accurately.

Dependence is best referred to as a physical dependence on a substance. A dependency is characterized with symptoms like tolerance and withdrawal, but it is possible to have a dependence without being addicted; however, one must be careful as addiction could be right around the corner of a dependency.

Addiction is referred to as a behavioral change due to changes in the brain from the continued use of a substance. The use of the substance becomes the top priority of the person, and they will behave in harmful ways to obtain the substance if in need of it. Addiction has two components, physical and mental dependence on a substance, yet what distinguishes it best is these two components being present with uncontrollable behavior.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the best resource for diagnosing addiction. The most recent chart produce by the DSM is the DSM-V, and in it, they eliminated the previous terminology of “substance abuse” when referring to addiction and “substance dependence” when referring to dependence and now use the term “substance use disorder” as an inclusive term for both addiction and dependence. This is an effort to help more people who may be in the earlier stages of addiction.

(To view a copy of the DSM-V chart click here.)

It is essential to be able to know the difference between an addiction and dependence especially in terms of recovery. Also, dependence can be a stepping stone towards addiction and its best to get help as quickly a possible to prevent harmful behavior. If you or someone you love may have an addiction or dependence. Don’t wait, get help today.

Never Give Up – Supporting Your Loved One In Recovery

If you read our blog post on Thanksgiving weekend, you may have seen the incredible, supportive thoughts our Chief Medical Officers shared on how to navigate the holidays during recovery. It was written for our patients but it wasn’t but a few moments later when the messages came rolling in with family members asking for help in how best to support their loved ones. Below is a blog post from our behavioral health Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Stephen Taylor. He speaks to all who may be wondering how to best support a loved one fighting every day for recovery.

In 1999, the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published a pamphlet entitled, Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. Revised in December 2012, the Guide lists 13 principles of drug addiction treatment that have been derived from over 40 years of research into what constitutes the successful treatment of people with drug addictions.
That’s right.
Believe it or not, there’s actually an established body of research-derived knowledge that informs us about what works in helping people overcome addictions. I want to write about two young people that I’ve been thinking about a lot – particularly in view of NIDA’s Principles.

The first of these young people was a patient of mine from several years ago, in the recent past. Thinking of him often causes me to think about the second young person, a former patient of mine from many years ago. In some ways, they were very similar to each other. Both were from well-educated, reasonably affluent families. Both grew up in upscale, exclusive communities and went to good schools. Both were genuinely good young people – bright, articulate, endearing.

One of them – my more recent patient – had parents whose “tough love” for him took the form of never giving up on him. They called him on his nonsense. They didn’t let him “get over” on them. They held him accountable. They caught him in his lies and they made sure he had appropriate consequences for his inevitable misdeeds. But they made it clear, both by word and by deed, that they would stop at nothing to help him overcome the terrible addiction disease that had been ruining his life for the last few years. They were with him every step of the way. There was simply no “quit” in them.

The other young person was a patient of mine in the distant past. She had parents who were totally “fed up” with all of the lies, the deceit and the games she played on them. By the time she first came to me, her parents had already been through several rounds of what I like to call “Treatment-Go-Round”: putting her in a treatment facility; then, after having her do well for a period of time, watching her relapse into drug use just a few weeks or months after leaving treatment. Their “tough love” for her took the form of kicking her out of the house, and telling her, “You’re on your own. We’re not going to pay for any more treatment for you. You want to use drugs? Have at it! We’re done with you!” Even when she called them, crying, desperately asking for them to help her get into a treatment program again, their answer was, effectively, “We’ve heard that before. You’re never going to change. Enough is enough!” Then they hung up the phone. Very tough, indeed.

My recent patient? He’s done well, so far. I can’t predict the future, but if I had to guess, I’d say he’s going to make it. It won’t always be smooth; but because his parents emphasized the LOVE in their “tough love” for him, he has a very good chance of making it to long term recovery from addiction. My other former patient? She’s dead. Died of an overdose. It’s still painful to think about her.

That former patient of mine was one of the people who taught me – and my more recent patient was one of the people who reinforced the lesson – that it’s the LOVE in “tough love” that makes the difference. Not that my older patient’s parents didn’t love her. I’m sure they did. Unfortunately, they didn’t know how to love her – with her horribly addicted brain; and her dishonest, manipulative, self-destructive, and no-doubt absolutely maddening behaviors that came along with her addiction. It’s not easy to love someone who is suffering from the disease of addiction. Yet that’s what parents and family members and loved ones have to do – the right way – if you want to have a chance to help your loved one overcome this disease. It makes all the difference in the world.

I didn’t get the chance to start working with my older patient early enough in the course of her disease to try to teach her parents how to love her – in accordance with what I now call my “Tough Love Principle,” that “It’s the LOVE in ‘Tough Love’ that makes the difference.” I wish I had had that chance. The horrible disease of addiction cut short the life of a very sweet young lady.

At this point, it’s reasonable to ask: What does all this have to do with NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment? Principle # 5 reads, in part:

“Recovery from drug addiction is a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug abuse can occur and should signal a need for treatment to be reinstated or adjusted.”

So what does that mean? Here’s the Dr. Steve Translation: It means you NEVER give up.

It means that if your loved one has been in treatment for their addiction 9 times, and has relapsed 9 times, do everything in your power to help her to go into treatment a 10th time! Do it differently, of course. Keep in mind the old saying, “the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.” Don’t be insane. Look at what went wrong during or after previous treatment episodes that might have contributed to a relapse or a poor outcome, and be careful not to make those same mistakes. But by all means, try again! Never give up on your loved one with an addiction illness. The only way to lose the battle against a chronic, relapsing disease like the addiction is to stop trying. And we’re in it to win it. So never stop trying. Never give up! It’s in keeping with Dr. Steve’s “Tough Love” Principle. It’s in keeping with NIDA’s 5th principle of drug addiction treatment. It’s simply the right thing to do. Never give up!

Recovery During the Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving from Pathway Healthcare!

The holidays are often filled with many highs and lows. And for those who are along the pathway of recovery, the challenges many will require emotional, mental and physical strength. We are thankful for the opportunity we have to provide access to care and help for those whose lives are affected by substance abuse. In this post our Chief Medical Officers share their encouragement and guidance for all in recovery this holiday season. We hope you will experience a wonderful holiday and feel supported as you navigate the events of this time of year.
From Dr. Brent Boyett, Pathway Healthcare, Chief Medical Officer – Medical
The holiday season can amplify feelings of loss, grief, stress, and loneliness in people working to maintain their recovery. When these feelings present, to prevent relapse triggers, it is critical for those in recovery to avoid isolation and keep a regular routine.

Also, though sometimes hard, people in recovery should avoid family and friends who frequently use drugs or alcohol. Many times, family and friends just don’t understand how fragile the recovery process can be and offering drugs or alcohol to a person in early recovery can result in life-threatening relapse. Because the emotional memories are stored in the brain’s hippocampus, even the slightest exposure of a dopamine-releasing drug can cause the motivational reward circuits to create irresistible compulsions instantly. There is no such thing as “just one drink” or “just one joint” for those in recovery.

Finally, it is important to note that even the winter weather that often accompanies the holiday season can result in relapse. Winter weather can trigger emotional stress and depression. The condition is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and can be associated with a reduction in the amount of daylight related to the shorter days of the season. This stress and depression can frequently lead to temptation and relapse. So, people in recovery should get some exercise and sunlight to avoid being SAD and potentially much worse.

Whether it’s isolation, a break from routine, family or friends, or even the weather, people in recovery must learn to identify their triggers and avoid them, even if it is hard. It may save their life.”
The holiday season can amplify feelings of loss, grief, stress, and loneliness in people working to maintain their recovery. When these feelings present, to prevent relapse triggers, it is critical for those in recovery to avoid isolation and keep a regular routine.

From Dr. Stephen Taylor, Pathway Healthcare, Chief Medical Officer – Behavioral

Listed below are some time-honored, tried-and-true principles for recovering from an addiction. To be sure, I didn’t make these up. They are the result of many decades of experiences gathered and learned by millions of people who have taken this journey called “recovery.” The wisdom listed below in 7 parts can be used as affirmations or reminders to not give up on your pathway of recovery no matter what season of life you may be experiencing.

#1: Commit to a complete and total transformation for the long haul.

Recovery means a total change in your life, for the rest of your life. Nothing less than that will work. It is a process – a marathon, not a sprint. And like a marathon, it’s a tremendous amount of work. Active work.

#2 Develop a support network of people who know how to do this “recovery thing.”

You need to be immersed in recovery. It is essential that you surround yourself with like-minded people who are going through the same recovery process as you are, and that you seek out guidance from several people who have already achieved long-term stable recovery in their own lives. All supportive family members/significant other and supportive friends are key voices to long-term success.

#3: Avoid people, places and things associated with the drug, food or behavior you are addicted to.

You are kidding yourself if you think that you’re going to recover from alcoholism while going to bars with your same group of drinking buddies, but simply refraining from having any drinks yourself. This may mean that you will have to cut some people loose. It’s that serious. Recovery from addiction is a life-and-death, do-whatever-it-takes imperative.

#4: Take recovery “one day at a time.” This is where it’s helpful to remember the old Chinese saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Think of it exactly that way. One step. And then another. And then another. Don’t tell yourself, “I have to do this for the rest of my life,” since that can be daunting. Tell yourself, “Today, I’m going to engage fully in my recovery program. I’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes. But right now, I’m only going to focus on today.”

#5: Be careful not to fall victim to “cross addiction.”

Addiction is not a drug-specific disease. It’s not even a “behavior-specific” disease. So this means that when you attempt to recover from addiction, you are seeking a total transformation into a healthier spiritual and lifestyle existence. This must be a comprehensive change.

#6: Don’t neglect the “medical side” of your recovery.

Get in to see your doctor. He or she may, in turn, refer you to a mental health professional. This, of course, would be the gold standard. (You think I might be biased in this regard?) But truth to tell, that’s not the only way a mental health problem can be diagnosed or treated. Sometimes your primary care doctor can diagnose you with one of these conditions and provide you with reasonable treatment for it. Don’t shy away from this. You’ve got to see this as an integral part of your effort to recover. And your attitude towards your recovery must be, “I’ll do whatever it takes to recover!”

#7: Never give up; keep coming back.

Understand that addiction is a chronic, potentially recurrent condition that can be treated and controlled, but not “cured.” Still, if you’re like most people, you WILL have challenges and setbacks along your road to recovery. You may even fall completely “off the wagon,” at times. The key is NEVER to get discouraged. It’s NEVER too late. You can never make too many attempts to try again and get into recovery. Ten times. Fifteen times. Twenty-five times. It doesn’t matter. If you’re still breathing, you can – and you must – come back and try again. It’s too important to give up on this.

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health, addiction, dependence, substance abuse or chronic pain due to medication Pathway Healthcare teams are here to help! Contact us or view our locations.

Veterans and Addiction

Each day, an estimated 18-22 veterans die by suicide; addiction is a leading cause.

Deployment, combat, and reintegration challenges are among many stressors that veterans may endure that could lead to a substance use disorder.

“The most prevalent types of substance use problems among male and female veterans include heavy, episodic drinking and cigarette smoking.” [a]

“Yet, the onset of substance use disorders can also emerge secondary to other mental health problems associated with these stressors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.” [a]

Co-occurring mental health disorders are prevalent among today’s veterans who receive treatment for substance use disorders.

Statistically, a veteran with PTSD or some other mental health disorder is more likely to receive an opioid prescription than those without mental health diagnoses. Those with PTSD often are prescribed higher doses of opioids and are more likely to receive refills easily. This means a veteran with PTSD who is taking opioids for treatment are more likely to be diagnosed with an opioid use disorder; which could trigger other unfortunate outcomes such as frequent emergency room visits, opioid-related accidents, over-doses, inpatient admission, and further injuries.

A veteran with PTSD may also be prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Anti-depressant medication can often be highly addictive. Some physicians actively prescribe non-addictive, anti-anxiety medications to prevent patients from developing a dependence which will often lead to addiction. (Pathway Healthcare’s CMO, Dr. Stephen Taylor, speaks more to the topic of addiction to anti-anxiety medication in this article.)

Very few veterans use illicit drugs. This may be due to the possibility of it leading to a dishonorable discharge. Alcohol use disorder is very prevalent due to military culture. Veterans that experienced high levels of combat exposure are more likely to engage in heavy drinking at 26% and 54 % binge drink in comparison to other military personnel. [a]

When co-occurring disorders exist, treatment for both addiction and mental illness is necessary to address the underlying causes and symptoms of each. SAMHSA suggests an integrated treatment approach for substance use and mental illness interventions. Treatment is available for both disorders but must be addressed as an individual condition. If not, one or both of the conditions may persist. Substance use disorder treatment services are accessible to veterans through VA Medical Centers (VAMC) across the country. For veterans not connected with a local VAMC, and even when they are, access to care can be difficult. This is why we at Pathway Healthcare exist – to increase access to care and to help people who need treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. MAT Plus® is our treatment approach that combines both medication-assisted treatment and behavioral health integrative services. If you or someone you love is suffering from a dependence, substance use disorder, chronic pain or mental health disorder contact us or find a location near you.

[a]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5587184/

The Crippling Stigma of Drug Addiction

“In other words: We don’t accept her kind. In a health-care setting, the problem with stigma associated with drug addiction isn’t just that it hurts people’s feelings, or that it is shaming, or that it is unjust — though all of these things are true. The problem with stigma is that patients dealing with drug addiction get much, much worse care.”

Just the words ‘drug addiction’ flash an image across the mind. But is this image you see the only reality? What if the colleague sitting next to you for 8 hours a day whose great at their job, or the friend you’re having dinner with tonight or even your yoga teacher admitted the same addiction; would that change the way you currently see them? Would they all of a sudden become a ‘bad guy’?

Not only are these questions important for one to ask of themselves but also important questions for our healthcare systems.

Dr. Jessica Gregg, sheds light on our preconceived stigmas and associations with drug addiction and dependence when she writes, “It announces itself with, “Well, you did this to yourself.” As if patients with tobacco-ravaged lungs, or with complications from diabetes, or clogged arteries, or broken legs from driving too fast didn’t also contribute to their hospitalizations.”

We all know that there is a certain understanding from the medical community for tobacco-ravaged lungs, diabetes, clogged arteries and broken limbs. If you check in with any of these conditions healthcare is readily available. Your treated well, insurance covers most of your treatment and, while behavior is addressed, patients are not shunned. However, this isn’t always the case with those in recovery or seeking recovery from drug addiction and dependence; even though we know the evidence is there that they are suffering from a disease of the brain that needs to be treated just like any other chronic illness.

At Pathway Healthcare, our patients matter. They belong. They not only receive the very best evidence-based medical treatment available but also the emotional support they will need to carry on through their pathway to recovery. If you or someone you love is in need of care for dependence or addiction contact us today.
Read More >>

Addiction Treatment Week 2018 – Treat Addiction, Save Lives

In 2015, over 20 million Americans suffered from a substance abuse disorder, yet recent studies show only 10% of those with addiction receive treatment. Think about it. Only 1 in 10 people suffering from a substance abuse disorder receives the tools necessary for lasting recovery. In the middle of an addiction epidemic, we need to close the treatment gap.

Now let’s talk alcohol abuse. Last year over 88, 000 people died from alcohol-related causes, but less than 10% received treatment. That is a fully packed NFL stadium of people who lost their lives due to alcohol. Alcohol abuse and dependence can be well treated, support is there and recovery is possible. We need to raise awareness, reduce the stigma and shame surrounding addiction and dependence.

In 2015, 2.3 million Americans suffered from opioid use disorder or dependence, but only 1.4 million people were treated. That leaves nearly 1 million people untreated. Pathway Healthcare is a proud supporter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) along with their partners to help raise awareness of the addiction epidemic. Learn more about how to get involved and spread the word about the need for a larger addiction medicine workforce at http://www.TreatAddictionSaveLives.org.

When seeking treatment for a substance use disorder it is important to know that quality care is available and life repair is possible. At Pathway Healthcare we offer treatment for substance use disorders, contact us today.

Naloxone is saving lives, but without effective treatment those saved may not survive a year

Naloxone, a medication known for reversing overdoses, is widely used by healthcare professionals and emergency care responders. The opioid overdose crisis continues to affect the lives of millions of Americans and many have experienced the life-saving effect of Naloxone.

Recently, Dr. Scott Weiner, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, conducted a study of 12,000 Naloxone dosages given in ambulances. He found that 93.5% of patients given Naloxone survived the overdose, yet approximately 35% of these patients died within a year later of opioid overdoses. This means a patient who receives Naloxone and successfully recovers from their overdose has a 1 in 10 chance of not living through the next year.

What we know from the above study is that Naloxone is effectively saving lives; however, there is a deeper problem that must also be addressed in order for patients to live long lives of recovery. It is vital that people who recover from an overdose become involved in treatment as soon as they are released from emergency care.

The healthcare industry can utilize data from studies like these to better understand the importance of informing patients the vital need they have to take the next steps to ensure they fully recover. Many emergency departments are making strides towards this in either having an addiction and dependency specialist available for patients or by partnering with nearby treatment centers. It is important for the patient and their loved ones to know that scientific evidence shows that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) coupled with behavioral counseling is the best treatment model for opioid addiction today.

At Pathway Healthcare, we offer our custom standards, MAT Plus ™, which gives each patient highly effective medication-assisted treatment and top of the line counseling in a caring and supportive environment. If you or someone you care about is struggling with opioid addiction or dependency, we can help. Contact us today.

FDA approves formulation of new medication and supports widespread access to care

In the wake of the nation’s opioid crisis, the FDA is working towards the development of new medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder and new alterations to existing medicine that can more accurately meet the needs of patients in recovery. The FDA is also increasing their role in supporting the usage of these medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder and are partnering with new health agencies.

Millions of Americans are suffering from opioid drug addiction. They are in need of immediate access to care that can help them effectively fight their dependency and give them the support they need to live a life of recovery. The FDA plays an important role in the midst of this crisis. The FDA’s approval of the medication used to treat opioid use disorder is crucial and also the FDA’s support of these medications should promote a wider usage giving more patients safe and effective care. The FDA also has a responsibility in limiting new addiction through impacting standards for which opioid prescriptions are written.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is supported by the FDA and is a scientifically proven as a highly-effective way of treating opioid use disorder. Drugs like buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone have all been approved by the FDA as a means of safely treating opioid addiction. These medications limit or block the brain’s opioid receptors and thus play an important role in leading the patient into sobriety especially in combination with counseling or psychiatric support.

At Pathway Healthcare, we are committed to giving our patients the highest standard of care and we offer a combination of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and behavioral counseling as our custom standards known as MAT Plus™. The most effective of all treatment types for opioid addiction is the adoption of MAT coupled with psychological services. We look forward to the FDA’s new commitment to advance these treatment options.
Read More >>

What’s the difference between opiates and opioids

One of the most common problems doctors see every day are patients in need of pain relief. They are usually in the kind of pain that an over-the-counter medication will not relieve and are in need of a doctor’s recommendation or prescribing pen to experience the relief they need to operate their lives as normal.

Unfortunately, the over-prescribing of opiates and opioids in America to treat pain has thrust our nation into an epidemic of silent addiction and it is time to understand what these medications are, what they do inside the body and why so many are addicted.

What are Opiates and Opioids?

Opiates are chemicals that are derived from the poppy plant and activate the bodies opioid receptors found in the brain giving a ‘feel good’ sensation. An opioid is a name originally used to describe the synthetic chemicals which either activate, partially activate, block or do a combination of these three actions on different subtypes of the opioid receptors. Today, the term opioid is often used to include both natural opiates, derived from the poppy plant like heroin and morphine, and synthetic chemicals like oxycodone and fentanyl. The term opioid may also refer to opioid receptor antagonists like naloxone and naltrexone and to partial agonists like buprenorphine.

How do Opiate and Opioids Work Inside the Body?

Opiates mimic the effect of beta-endorphin only with a much greater potency. Beta-endorphin is the bodies’ natural opioid receptor activator. When these opioid receptors are activated it results in the release of the pleasure-producing neurotransmitter, dopamine. Normally this process compels us to strive for things that are good for our survival like drinking water when we are thirsty or eating when we are hungry. Even the motivation to avoid painful situations before they occur is driven by this process. Beta-endorphin is nature’s pleasure hormone when things are going well for our survival, opiates and opioids are a chemical trick.

Synthetic opioids can be designed to have different effects on different opioid receptors in the body and have different potencies. Opioids can be engineered to activate some opioid receptors subtypes with different strengths or to block certain receptors and activate others. For example, Fentanyl works like morphine as it binds to the brain’s opioid mu receptor, but is 100 times more potent. Buprenorphine weakly activates the mu receptor and it also blocks the kappa receptor. (Both Mu and Kappa are opioid receptors that occur naturally in the body.) This is why Buprenorphine is known as a partial agonist. Buprenorphine has a ceiling effect on its activation of the opioid mu receptor. It is dose dependent only until it hits a certain level of plasma concentration and then it stops giving significant increases in reward with each dose. While the ceiling effect is not absolute, it does tend to reduce the abuse potential when buprenorphine is administered as directed in the opioid tolerate patient. Other synthetic opioids, like naloxone and naltrexone, can occupy the opioid receptors but do not activate it and create no reward. They will also block the effects of other opioids and opiates rendering them ineffective. This reversal effect of antagonist (blockers) on agonist (activators) is what creates the lifesaving effects of naloxone. In short, synthetic opioids allow scientists to create a much more sophisticated and specific approach to the manipulation of the bodies opioid receptor system.

How does Addiction to Opiates and Opioids Occur?

Pain (both physical and emotional) is the bodies most important defense mechanism. It drives us away from harm and destruction. Pain constantly tells us “don’t do that, it’s bad for you.” Pleasure (physical and emotional) is also important. Pleasure compels us to do certain things that are important to our survival. Under normal conditions, our balance of pain and pleasure is determined by our circumstances or the way we perceive that we are surviving in our environment.

There are about a hundred chemicals known to scientist that trick the bodies known pain and pleasure circuits creating a false sense of pleasure. When opioids create this sense of pleasure over time the brain will try to reset its baseline setting. This is the way of sensing pain even though the person is trying to trick their senses into a perception that their circumstances are better than they are. This effect is called tolerance and results in the need for higher and higher doses in order to achieve the same effect. The problem becomes further complicated by the fact that when the drug’s effect wears off, the pain and pleasure balance does not go back to a balanced state. When the opioid’s effect goes away the patient’s perception of their circumstances becomes a very painful state both physically and emotionally. Back pain seemingly does not heal, and patients become angry, depressed and apathetic. The need to use an opioid in order to feel normal is called dependence. Often the most common symptom of opioid withdrawal is physical pain.

In opioid addiction, physical withdrawal is only the tip of the iceberg. Craving becomes an all-consuming preoccupation of one’s attention. It is an unrelenting obsession to regain the balance of pain and pleasure. Craving can be divided into two categories. The first is tonic craving which is thought to be related to plasma concentrations and receptor activation of the drug addiction. Tonic craving is a continuum of mild withdrawals. The other type of craving is known as phasic craving is related to triggers. Triggers are environmental perceptions that remind the subconscious mind of the pleasure associated with the drug of addiction. Triggers could be people or places. They could even be smells, sounds or sites.

Brains that have been exposed to opioids over a long period of time often develop a condition of anhedonia or pleasure deafness. Once a person’s brain becomes dependent on the drug, they cannot experience pleasure or even contentment without it. Without the drug, their world becomes a very painful and dark place. This condition is known as chronic dysphoria or always present physical and emotional pain.

What to Remember and Know about Opiates and Opioids

Pain is important for survival. Pain compels us to avoid harm. Yet, human nature compels one to seek relief for pain and it is important to be aware of chemicals like opioids that highjack and short-circuit this process. They should be used with extreme caution and for the shortest amount of time possible so the body maintains a natural, healthy balance of pleasure and pain.

(Article was written by Dr. Brent Boyett, D.O., D.M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Pathway Healthcare, a national treatment center for substance abuse and dependency.)

Addressing the need for the de-stigmatization of medication assisted treatment (MAT)

What is the best way to treat an opioid crisis that killed more people in 2016 than the Vietnam and Iraq Wars combined? This is the question being asked by regulators, medical providers, and now the general public as it becomes harder by the day to find someone that has been untouched by the disease of addiction and dependency.

On Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 the FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, told a U.S. House committee that they are looking into ways to widen the use of ‘medication-assisted therapy’ (MAT) alongside counseling to combat addiction to opioids; an approach that still carries a stigma for many who don’t understand the latest evidence as it relates to the treatment of substance use disorders.

At Pathway Healthcare, a core part of our mission is to provide stigma free care. We are utilizing a combination of behavioral counseling and medication assisted therapy (MAT Plus™) to provide our patients a pathway to recovery.

Our MAT Plus™ is a proprietary, evidence based, treatment approach that is designed to treat addiction and dependency in a manner consistent with other chronic diseases. The stigma surrounding medication assisted treatment is counterproductive to giving people the help they need to improve their life function. It is always encouraging to see articles like the one listed below from Bloomberg.com address the need to destigmatize medication assisted treatment and make real steps to address the opioid epidemic.

To learn more please read, FDA Aims to Destigmatize Drugs as Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Visit www.i360dallas.com