Opiate Addiction is currently the world’s worst drug problem. Especially in America; Opiate overdoses have killed about 400,000 of our fellow citizens over the past ten years. And the problem is not getting better, it’s getting worse.
The current Opiate epidemic started in the 90s, when drug companies manufacturing strong Opiate medications for pain, had representatives explain to the prescribing doctors, that a patient will only become addicted if the person had a pre-existing problem with addiction. Doctors were told, that addicts have an “addictive personality,” and that without an addictive personality, the chances of becoming addicted to Opiates were very low.
It turns out, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we now know that if one takes Opiates every day for about one month; the person would likely have some “withdrawal symptoms” if they try to abruptly discontinue their Opiate use. More and more individuals eventually found themselves unable to stop taking their Lortabs or their Vicoden or their Percocets or their Oxycontin; without experiencing very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. These Opiate withdrawal symptoms may include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, vomiting, agitation, insomnia, hot and cold sweats and severe fatigue.
Often times, patients were too embarrassed or ashamed to tell their doctor about the withdrawal symptoms. Many thought there must have been something wrong with them, because of their belief that a doctor wouldn’t prescribe a harmful. Patients would then start “Doctor Shopping,” or obtaining pills from other doctors, when they would run out of their Opiate prescription early, because of taking more than prescribed. Others turned to the street to obtain more Opiates. Some turned to Heroin.
Because most doctors were relatively naïve about the addiction producing nature of the new Opiates and didn’t really know how to recognize withdrawal symptoms, or didn’t know what to do for the patient if they did; more and more patients became dependent of Opiates, They were unable to quit, even if they wanted to, without going into severe, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Then, this lead to the Black Market stepping up their supplies, to meet the increased demand for Opiates. It is estimated that over 50% of those currently addicted to Opiates, got that way from a doctor’s prescriptions.
If you or a loved one is having a problem with Opiates, excellent help is now available at The Drug and Alcohol Detox Clinic of South Mississippi. Call today for appointment: 601.261.9101, or on the web @ www.TheDrugandAlcoholDetoxClinic.com. You can connect with them on Facebook for more updates! There’s Still Hope!
