A twenty-something heroin addict told me today that there is no hope for her generation. She told me that everyone she grew up with is now addicted to heroin and/or opiates. Although this is the perception of an addict and an exaggeration of reality, I must say, that in my 10 plus years of practicing medicine, I have never seen a disease as devastating to so many young people as this epidemic. There are more and more patients on my daily list who are suffering from the consequences of heroin and/or opiate addiction. These consequences are often life threatening. I am constantly searching for answers and trying to figure out what I can do to make a difference in the disease outcome for these patients. I often feel defeated and helpless in trying to fight this disease, as there is no good cure. In other terminal diseases, I feel like I can at least formulate a plan of action that works for the patient and their loved ones. It may not be the desired plan but we can almost always come to peace with some sort of plan....hospice, pain control, comfort measures, ect. Although I always recommend rehabilitation to my addicted patients, few patients are willing. For those that go to rehab, few are successful. When I discharge my drug addicted patients, I feel like I am discharging them to die on the streets. I now keep a list and check the obituaries. This disease is destroying the lives of so many people. Tonight, I am again searching for answers. I am thinking of the sad, empty eyes of the young addict who told me today that she would do anything to go back to the first time she snorted an opana at a hotel party. She was only 16 at the time and it changed her life forever. This disease affects us all! We all need to educate our children. Drug abuse often starts at a young age. If you are suffering from addiction, there is hope. I know many recovered addicts. They have been to hell and back but have lived to tell about it! You can be one of those survivors! There is hope for you! If you have a loved one who is battling or has battled addiction, I strongly recommend Al-anon. In doing my research tonight, I found a definition of addiction. This gives some scientific insight into the disease- Definition of addiction, as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine- Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with ones behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 05:01:57 +0000
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