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Comfortable Withdrawal and Biophysical Detoxification

For many addicts the thought of withdrawal brings fear and anxiety to an already emotional situation. For this reason safe and comfortable medical withdraw is often times the first step in starting a positive program of recovery. First impressions are important and setting a tone of care and comfort is recommended.

Once withdraw is completed the next step of removing the residual effects of long term drug and alcohol abuse is a major factor in reducing relapse tendencies and insuring the maximum benefits are realized from the rest of the treatment. If an addict is still craving drugs and experiencing the "dulling" of their mind and senses the effectiveness of treatment is very much compromised.

Opiate Detox Heroin Detox and Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex, and Suboxone)
Opiate detox programs, licensed physicians and drug and alcohol rehab programs are able to provide this cutting edge opiate detoxification program utilizing buprenorphine (subutex®, suboxone®) to manage opiate withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is a synthetic opiate agonist medication that has been approved by the FDA for treatment of opiate addiction. It enables the patient a detoxification protocol for heroin addiction, methadone, oxycontin (oxycodone), vicodin (hydrocodone) and other similar narcotics which minimize the discomfort normally associated with detoxing from these highly addictive substances.

Subutex & Suboxone Approved to Treat Opiate Dependance

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Subutex (buprenorphine hydrochloride) and Suboxone tablets (buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride) for the treatment of opiate dependence. Subutex and Suboxone treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal from heroin and other opiates.

These products represent two new formulations of buprenorphine. The first of these formulations, Subutex, contains only buprenorphine and is intended for use at the beginning of treatment for drug abuse. The other, Suboxone, contains both buprenorphine and the opiate antagonist naloxone, and is intended to be the formulation used in maintenance treatment of opiate addiction. Naloxone has been added to Suboxone to guard against intravenous abuse of buprenorphine by individuals physically dependent on opiates. Both drugs are supplied in 2 mg and 8 mg tablets which are placed under the tongue and must be allowed to dissolve.
 
Subutex and Suboxone have been studied in over 2,000 patients and shown to be safe and effective treatments for opiate dependence. Side effects most commonly seen with the use of both drugs include cold or flu-like symptoms, headaches, sweating, sleeping difficulties, nausea, and mood swings. These effects usually peak in the beginning of treatment with Subutex or Suboxone and may last a number a weeks. Clinical data indicate that the risk of serious diminished breathing may be less with buprenorphine than other opioids when used in high doses or in overdose situations. Nonetheless, buprenorphine has been associated with deaths due to diminished breathing, especially when used in combination with alcohol or other Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant drugs, according to reports from France where it has been available for several years.

Based on the potential for abuse of Subutex and Suboxone, FDA and its parent Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) place the active ingredient, buprenorphine, in Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Buprenorphine is considered to have less risk for causing psychological and or physical dependence than the drugs in Schedule II such as morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, or methadone.

Subutex and Suboxone are the first narcotic drugs available for the treatment of opiate dependence that can be prescribed in an office setting under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000. Until recently, opiate dependence treatments in Schedule II, like methadone, could be dispensed in a very limited number of clinics that specialize in addiction treatment. As a consequence, there have not been enough addiction treatment centers to accommodate all patients desiring therapy. Under this new law, medications for the treatment of opiate dependence that are subject to less restrictive controls than those of Schedule II can be prescribed in a doctor's office by specially trained physicians. This change is expected to provide patients greater access to needed treatment.

The sponsor, in collaboration with the FDA and with input from other Health and Human Services agencies, has developed a comprehensive risk management program designed to deter abuse and diversion from its legitimate use in patients and physicians regarding proper use of these drugs, close monitoring of drug distribution channels, and child resistant packaging.

In addition, the provisions of the DATA include limits on the number of patients individual physicians are allowed to treat and special DEA registration for the use of this drug, thus providing additional safeguards as this drug enters the office-based treatment setting.

The risk management program also provides for active and passive surveillance to identify if and when the drugs are being abused. The surveillance will include interviews with substance abusers, monitoring local drug markets, data collection, and the monitoring of adverse event reports. Reports of the results of these surveillance efforts will enable FDA to identify untoward effects from the availability of buprenorphine and, if indicated, to take appropriate actions to protect the public health.
Subutex and Suboxone are manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals.

For more information visit - U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Detox – information provided by www.abttc.com
The detox portion of treatment is designed to break the vicious cycle of drug and/or alcohol addiction. Modern methods are used to make the detox both comfortable and, of course confidential. As a result, the client will be residing in a separate, yet equally peaceful and nurturing environment while receiving care both medically and emotionally.

The detox phase of treatment typically runs seven to ten days, depending on the client's need, and will be administered by a physician at one of our preferred providers’ site. The doctor will support the patient by prescribing the most medically comfortable detox protocol for each individual client. In addition, the client will be closely monitored throughout the process by experienced staff that will care for the client.

Subutex® Detox
Regarding opiate detox, the most common methodology in use today is to prescribe methadone. However, experience has shown us that methadone is often a lifetime commitment on the part of the opiate user and those on methadone maintenance are often looking for programs twenty and thirty years later. It is essentially the trading of an illegal addiction for a legal addiction. Also, if the methadone client should later decide to discontinue use, the detox from methadone is quite often far more difficult that of the common opiate heroin. For that reason, A Better Tomorrow's contracted provider will generally suggest the use of Soboxin or Subutex, which combines the therapeutic advantages of Buprenorphine and Moloxin. These are considered to be far less invasive and considerably shorter term, yet achieving the desired results of a safe and comfortable detox.

The Wide World of Drugs
With so many possible drugs available today, is it any wonder that 1 in every 12 people has had, is having or will have a problem/addiction. Obviously there is wide variety of street drugs. However, often overlooked is the misuse/abuse of prescription drugs, which, according to recent studies, has become an extreme danger throughout society. As a matter of information, the material below is a basic list of drugs that are commonly being abused all of which can become physically and/or emotionally addicting and all of which may lead to medical complications and withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol
Comes in many forms such as beer, wine and hard liquor. Obviously, alcohol is the most readily available drug and it ranks third in the United States as a cause of death. It is classified as a depressant and can negatively impact the brain, vision, hearing and muscle coordination. Alcoholism is impacting millions of Americans and their families each and every day, and among teenagers and college students, binge drinking has reached near epidemic proportions.

Marijuana
Also known as 'pot', 'weed', 'grass' and can come in other forms such as 'hashish' or 'hash'.
It's not the marijuana of the 60s and 70s any more. Its potency has increased by nearly 700 percent over the years. It can produce effects on the nervous system such as loss of energy, decreased coordination, loss of memory and questionable judgment or reasoning.

Heroin
Also known as 'smack', 'horse', 'H', 'tar' and 'China White', and sometime misspelled as "heron" and "heroine."

In its street version, Heroin has been used for centuries to promote a sense of well being and to relieve pain. However, it also creates a very fast physical dependency that is extremely difficult to break. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, synthetically produced opiates are manufactured primarily as pain relievers. Used judiciously, they have value. Abused, and they become just as dangerous as their street cousin heroin. Some of the more common prescription drugs in this category are Morphine, */Oxycontin/*, Vicodin, */Lortab/Loratab, Dilaudid, Darvon, Percocet, Percodan, Demerol, Hydrocodone/* and */Codine/Codeine/*. Methadone has also been used as a pain reliever and as a medication to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin. However, there are some newer alternatives such as buprenorphine and soboxin (which is a combination of buprenorphine and moloxin to prevent misuse) that have been found to be quite effective without some of the drawbacks of methadone.

Cocaine / Crack Cocaine
Also known as 'coke', 'blow', 'powder', 'snow' and 'nose' candy' or, in the case of 'crack', 'rock' or 'base'.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs available today. It offers an intense immediate rush lasting for 15 to 30 minutes with lesser euphoria for a few hours. However, as tolerance builds, more and more cocaine or switching to crack is needed to sustain the result. Negative complications from cocaine use are quite severe and can include respiratory problems, loss of ambition and efficiency, and time distortion. In addition, chronic use can result in near permanent brain impairment.

Methamphetamine / Amphetamines
Also known as 'speed', 'meth', 'crystal', 'crank', 'uppers' and 'bennies'.
Pharmaceutical versions include Ritalin, Dexedrine and Cylert. These are very potent stimulants often used by people who want to stay awake and active for extended periods of time. Other than the pharmaceuticals, which can also lead to problems, meth is usually cooked in home-based laboratories with devastating results on the end user. The chemicals are commonly available in grocery and drug stores. However, when combined to make meth, they are quite volatile and can lead to explosions. The residue is also very dangerous and hazardous to the health of those who are exposed. Meth is quite addictive and those who are cut off from their supply can become violent and paranoid.

Sedatives / Benzodiazepines
Also known as 'yellow jackets', 'ludes', roofies and reds and include those pharmaceutical drugs such as barbiturates and tranquilizers such as Xanax, Librium, Ativan and Valium among others.
Because of the availability of these drugs through prescription, these drugs are very easily abused, usually over a long period of time. As a result, the long-term, negative implications can be quite severe.

Club Drugs
Including 'Ecstasy' (also known as 'extasy', 'X, 'XTC' and essence'); 'GHB' (also known as 'liquid ecstasy' and 'G'); 'Ketamine' (also known as 'K', 'Kat', 'Special K' and 'Vitamin K'); 'PCP' (also known as 'Angel Dust'); and 'LSD' (also known as 'acid').

Ecstasy combines the properties of methamphetamine and mescaline offering not only a rush, but also hallucinogenic qualities. Heavy doses can have wide ranging negative consequences. GHB and Rohypnolare commonly used to relax the user. However, they are often used for the purpose of gaining submission over the user without their knowledge, thus resulting in the name 'Date Rape drugs'. A large enough dose of GHB can also result in coma and death. Ketamine and PCP are veterinary anesthetics. Large enough doses can cause delirium, high blood pressure, amnesia and respiratory problems as well as a tendency toward violence. LSD was the hallucinogenic drug of choice in the 70s and is still readily available. Its use often results in delusions and a total loss of reality. It can also cause the user to suffer delusional flashbacks long after the last dose was taken.