More Prescriptions Given to Addicts as Alternative to Real Drug Rehab

According to a recent article, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Addiction) is set to begin a study through New York University’s Medical Center that would provide those addicted to prescription pain pills, more pills to “wean” them off the drugs. This is a similar concept that the methadone maintenance programs use to wean people off heroin.

This study will be called the Prescription Opiate Addiction Treatment Study and will not only be done at the NYU’s Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital but at 12 other sites around the country. Some of the substitute drugs will include buprenorphone/naloxone and Suboxone to handle addictions to drugs such as OxyContin and Vicoden.

With Suboxone, there are many side effects similar to those effects that people addicted to OxyContin and Vicoden experience. According to SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) side effects of Suboxone/Subutex®, include dysphoric (depressed) mood, nausea or vomiting, muscle aches/cramps, lacrimation (secretion of excess tears), rhinorrhea (excessive discharge of mucus from the nose), dilation of pupils, sweating, piloerection (erection of hair), diarrhea, yawning, mild fever, insomnia, cravings, distress and irritability.

According to the DEA website, some of the effects and withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin include: constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness.

If you really look, there are more negative effects listed for the “replacement” drug like Suboxone. So, how does that solve the problem?

And, the long term success rates for sobriety from drug addiction by using replacement drug approaches does not top 20%.

Is giving people these replacement drugs the same as giving them more of the drugs they are already addicted to? Or is it worse?

Article by Eric

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