New Breed of Addict: Open Discussion!
There’s a new breed of addict, and it brings into question those with the disease of addiction. I don’t mean this to debate the disease concept itself, but to discuss if today’s heroin addicts are genetically predisposed. Alcohol, Marijuana, and even Cocaine have people that are can use them recreationally, and not become addicted. I have never met a casual heroin user, so how do clinicians determine best practice methods? Although addiction does not discriminate, the current opioid epidemic is decimating our younger generation. Most treatment centers use the disease concept to educate clients on why they should avoid the use of any mind-altering substance in the future. I would argue that telling these addicts that they must remain abstinent has a negative effect. I also don’t think that we have some new influx of people with the “gene”, but that Opiates will cause the brain chemistry to alter into addiction.
I just did not understand that if I had the “Gene” why I had never developed a drinking problem. Admittedly, I have a type A, addictive personality which is obviously a factor making me prone to addiction. I heard countless people speak of how the first time they had a couple beers/pills, they immediately loved the feeling. I simply could not relate, I had never felt that way and after my first back surgery I didn’t even like opiates. After several years of pain and surgeries, I developed depression and then the opiates started to feel good. In the beginning, I was physically dependent but once the depression took over I lost all control.
The reason I’m using my story as an example, is because I would argue that opiates can make anyone an addict. Current statistics show addicts having co-existing mental disorders at approximately 80%. As I look back with a clear mind, I truly believe that opiate addicts are close to 99%. People with no childhood trauma or pre-existing issues are using opiates, and eventually developing depression. Long-term care is often needed to simply get an accurate baseline diagnosis, and best practice methods must be developed. The current treatment models are simply developed by the ideals of the owners, and not always the actual science.
Once someone does develop an opiate addiction, are they truly an “addict” for life? Can people develop the disease over chronic usage? Answering questions like this will help us develop the science and work towards a solution. Rehabs collaborating instead of spending all of their capital on advertising will move towards a solution that helps society! https://projectihab.com/
CEO at Ruper Enterprise
7 年From my personal experience, rehab facilities are more interested in making money than in actually helping any patient. They do a fine job of knowing every insurance plan, union and employer benefits and capitalize on that by targeting those employees. The forms used to track an individual's progress are just a check-off the box form. There is little or no actual therapy to lead to the core reason for an individual's addiction. There is no plan for recovery except to attend AA meetings. There are fancy people with lots of credentials after their name who speak in fancy terms to confuse the audience. There is no real effort to abate the addiction patients because the money for pretending cures is too easy and too plentiful. Further, there is no oversight agency to review outcomes and improve quality of care.
Executive Administrator / CEO
7 年Very wise, my friend!