GIA Miami Helps Opioid Dependency Patients ‘Cross that Bridge’ Into Recovery

The addiction?crisis?is more grievous than ever before, with overdoses now the number one cause of accidental death in the U.S. In fact, the CDC reported?over 107,000 fatal overdoses in 2021, the highest ever recorded in a single year. Most significantly, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and powerful pain-reducing prescription medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine have all increased between 2020 and 2021.?

As the opioid epidemic continues to spread across the country, affecting Americans of all kinds, it is more important than ever for those of us in the addiction treatment and recovery community to dedicate ourselves to aggressively -- and passionately -- work side by side with individuals managing in the devastating challenges associated with opioid use disorder (OUD).?

GIA Miami is on the front lines utilizing a full scope of innovative therapeutic advancements in primary prevention, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support that address every part of our patients’ mental and physical health. We’ve got a lot of experience in this field – and a lot of work ahead of us.

"One of the first and most serious challenges in treatment of OUD is managing withdrawal from the drug."

One of the first and certainly most serious challenges in treating a patient with OUD is to help manage their withdrawal from the drug. Physical dependence to opioids is an expected physiological response to opioid use, whether the patient is using medically prescribed opioid medications or is suffering OUD because of abuse. Either way, the initial phase in overcoming addiction to opioids is an extremely difficult one.

Those symptoms of withdrawal include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle spasms, feeling of coldness and sweating, heart pounding, muscle aches, and runny eyes. This acute physical sickness is usually accompanied by anxiety, agitation, sleep problems and, of course, drug craving.

Even more problematic, the physical symptoms of severe opioid withdrawal are often the biggest barrier for patients seeking help.

"The FDA-approved Bridge Neurostimulation System can provide days of relief from opioid withdrawal."

One of the latest approaches in mitigating these physiological challenges is the application of a wearable a neurobiological/electrical device for reducing the acute symptoms.

The Bridge Neurostimulation System, or Bridge Device, is a small FDA-approved electrical nerve stimulator about the size of a half-dollar, which is worn behind the patient’s ear. Applied by a qualified healthcare professional in a short non-surgical procedure, the device is demonstrated to provide several days of continuous relief from opioid withdrawal.

Its gentle electrical impulses around the ear stimulate branches of certain cranial nerves, whereby blocking the transmission of pain signals sent from the spine and brain. Used for up to 14 days only, this Bridge Device is intended as a primary intervention to acutely control the physical side effects of withdrawal before the patient transitions to next-step therapies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which effectively controls, reduces, and eliminates the cravings?– as well as the underlying causes of addiction.

"The Bridge Device and TMS are a one-two punch for patients entering treatment."

When coupled together, the Bridge Device and TMS serve as a one-two punch for patients entering treatment for opioid addiction. In fact, the device allows TMS to do its job sooner and more safely.?

TMS is a novel treatment for a range of mental health including clinical depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, and smoking cessation. However, recent groundbreaking research has also shown TMS to be an effective treatment for substance use disorders and behavioral addictions as it serves to increase abstinence, reduce cravings, and help improve symptoms of substance abuse like memory lapses and decreased cognitive performance.

It, too, is a non-invasive procedure, but works by passing gentle magnetic pulses across the surface of the head at multiple sites, as needed. The pulses pass through the scalp and stimulate certain areas of brain cells, whereby having a significant impact on mood and behavior. Typical courses offer daily TMS sessions for around four to six weeks.

GIA Miami encourages and welcomes the innovation and development of therapies to help patients address all forms of addiction, including those suffering from opioid addiction to transition to lives of sobriety – as well as address the unfortunate stigma that is sometimes associated with the use of medication-assisted treatments.?

"GIA Miami is committed to making the client's first steps into sobriety as safe and easy as possible."

The crisis of misuse and abuse of opioid drugs is impacting communities all across the country – and South Florida is no exception. But the good news is, The team of healthcare professionals at GIA has decades of experience in helping people with substance addictions. With the right medication, treatment, and evidence-based psychotherapies, we are committed to making our clients’ first steps into sobriety as safe and easy as possible.

Our client-centered programs at GIA Miami are designed to give our patients the most comprehensive treatment possible, and our clinical team work with each individual patient to develop a plan to suit their specific needs.

PHOTO CREDIT: Danilo-Alves