Prescription drug abuse has become a serious public health problem in the United States, adding to the nation's woes with illegal drugs and alcohol. According to a 2016 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Addiction (CDC), more than 183,000 died of accidental overdoses related to prescription opioids.
Most people start taking drugs voluntarily. The drug gradually rewires the brain, resulting in addiction, major physical and mental problems, and sometimes even death. However, when it comes to the journey to recovery, few people report to diagnosis and follow-up treatment. One of the key reasons for patients' reluctance to choose a treatment program is the pain and discomfort experienced during the detoxification process.
Getting into a good treatment program is a difficult task because most facilities are already overcrowded, reducing the chances of accepting new patients. Many unfortunate patients wait weeks and months for their turn and lose their lives due to overdoses or life-threatening diseases such as HIV or hepatitis due to the use of illegal drugs.
To prevent the problem of illegal drug use among patients who have not yet enrolled in a treatment program, researchers at the University of Vermont have developed a device that allows patients to use the drug at home. A tamper-resistant electronic pill dispenser has made it easier to use Suboxone at home, a combination drug of buprenorphine and naloxone that binds to the same brain receptors as other opioids such as OxyContin, heroin and Vicodin. Buprenorphine relieves withdrawal symptoms and prevents the "high" if the patient is addicted to any such opioid.
Buprenorphine can help patients get off opioids
Buprenorphine itself is an opioid, so it carries a high risk of developing addiction. But this is not the case because of the different chemical composition of the drug, which reduces its potential for abuse. Therefore, people waiting their turn at prescription drug rehab centers can use it to suppress their cravings until they get a chance for proper treatment. However, this invention was deliberately designed to make each daily dose available only in a three-hour period, which not only prevented excessive use of the drug, but also made it mandatory for users to visit researchers regularly.
In a small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 88 percent of 25 participants given the tool were reportedly free of illicit opioids after four weeks. After eight weeks, recovery was 84 percent, and after 12 weeks, it was 68 percent. Interestingly, the remaining 25 who received no anti-addiction treatment reported no improvement in their addictive behavior.
Since its development, buprenorphine has been used as a safer alternative to methadone in the treatment of addiction to heroin and painkillers. However, given the high potential for abuse, it is administered strictly under medical supervision.
"Buprenorphine will maintain some of the patient's existing physical dependence on opioids, but this is manageable and can be resolved by tapering once the patient is ready," the researchers said.
The road to recovery
The fact that doctors continue to prescribe opioids to their patients who complain of pain makes it difficult for health care providers and those at the federal level to combat the scourge of opioid abuse. Due to the increasing abuse of prescription drugs, it has become important to control the sale, purchase and use of prescription drugs.
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