There IS Effective Addiction Treatment!

Editor's note: Eden Laikin is Director of Governmental Research and Chair of the Nassau County Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse Prevention Committee in the Office of the Nassau County Executive.

Treatment professionals believe it generally takes people with Substance Use Disorder well over a year of intense treatment to have a chance at recovery.

Unfortunately, not even that amount of time is a guarantee.

Last month, a retired high-ranking Navy admiral wrote a newspaper article about his own son’s addiction and ultimate overdose death and what he learned from experts throughout his family’s journey. [1]

He said, and I wholeheartedly agree, that “effective treatment generally requires a combination of craving-reducing drugs (to give recovery a chance), time (for the brain to literally recover), counseling (for the addict to understand what he or she is going through), mutual support (to maintain sobriety), and transition training (to prepare for reentering society).”

I’ve been clean and in recovery for 21 and a half years. I have met and had conversations with thousands and thousands of people who suffer with addiction - people of all ages, races, and genders. I’ve also chaired the Nassau County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force and been deeply involved in all aspects of prevention, education, awareness and treatment for the past 8 years.

I believe we already have in place the major components of effective treatments and that they’re being underutilized and understudied. For example, we have a non-narcotic, non-addictive medication that cuts or reduces cravings for opioids, allowing the brain to begin healing. It’s administered monthly by a healthcare professional, thus cannot be abused and has demonstrated marked success when combined with private and/or group counseling over 12 to 18 months. Adding the support of a 12-Step Program greatly increases the ability to maintain sobriety, as it outlines the process to living a life without the use of drugs.

The medication is Vivitrol, an opioid blocker. The treatment suggests the recipient be willing to stop using, and be opioid-free, preferably for 7-10 days, before receiving the initial shot, or risk precipitated withdrawal. There is in practice, a non-narcotic, outpatient mode of detoxing the body in preparation for the first Vivitrol shot called Ancillary Withdrawal Services.

I believe Vivitrol is a lifesaver – on par with Narcan – and yet so many still have no idea about it as a good alternative to older methods.

A partner and I have been holding free weekly Vivitrol Information and Support groups at a school in Levittown since July 2015 and have already celebrated members with 1 and 2 years of sobriety. Each Tuesday night, people on Vivitrol plus those who have completed the Vivitrol treatment share their day-to-day experiences with others who may have interest in or are considering Vivitrol treatment for themselves or a loved one.

The program is aptly named A Shot at Life. Naltrexone, the main ingredient in Vivitrol, works by capping the brain’s opiate receptors for about 28 days, blocking the user’s high and reducing the cravings for opioids. Those suffering from addiction, family members and friends, and anyone who’s experienced Vivitrol treatment, are welcome to attend the informational meeting which is held from 7pm-9pm on Tuesdays, at Saint Bernard’s Parish school, 2nd floor, room 206.

Vivitrol is FDA-approved for relapse prevention and is covered under most private insurance and Medicaid. Vivitrol is available at more than two dozen substance abuse treatment agencies across the Island.

The FDA first approved Vivitrol for alcohol dependence in 2006. It was then approved to prevent relapse to opioid addiction in 2010 based on a study of 250 heroin- or opiate-addicted people in Russia. They had nearly 70% success rate and the subjects stopped using heroin. More importantly, they lost the desire for abusing them! [2]

Nassau County’s Opioid Treatment Program, located in Building K on the grounds of Nassau University Medical Center, offers Vivitrol, Methadone, and Suboxone on an outpatient basis. To be screened for possible admission, call the clinic’s intake number at (516) 572-5801.

You can live a life free from opioids and recovery is possible! We have examples of Vivitrol, as a pathway to recovery, working successfully in people’s lives. About 25 states currently use Vivitrol in their criminal justice systems, resulting in reduced recidivism, incarceration rates and costly ER visits. [3, 4]

Statistics indicate that 195 people died in Nassau last year from opioid overdoses and as of July 15th of this year, 98 residents have died from an overdose of prescription and/or illegal drugs.

We must look outside the box for new more effective treatment methods that give people a better chance at recovery!

References:

[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/11/an-epidemic-from-which-no-one-is-safe/546773/

[2] https://www.fdanews.com/articles/130669-despite-concerns-about-study-in-russia-panel-backs-vivitrol?v=preview#article-subscribe

https://www.oasas.ny.gov/AdMed/FYI/fyivivitrol.cfm

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/appletter/2010/021897s015ltr.pdf

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/appletter/2007/021897s003ltr.pdf

[3] https://nassaucountynewsnetwork.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/long-island-man-overcomes-opioid-addiction-gets-new-shot-at-life-and-uses-his-experience-to-help-others/

https://nassaucountynewsnetwork.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/nassau-gives-dozens-suffering-with-substance-use-disorder-a-shot-at-life/

[4] http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/03/30/opioid-addicted-inmates-vivitrol

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/09/new-drug-could-help-curb-crime.html

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/a-magic-shot-for-addiction-vivitrol-shows-early-promise-addicts/article_f63db615-c5a6-56ce-869a-7395fd370dbe.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-jail-pioneering-treatment-for-inmates-addicted-to-oipoids/

https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/3869/Media-Coverage

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