I caught the tail end of a radio show earlier this week on Michigan Radio. The host and guest were discussing the Management of Alcohol Program in Ottowa, Canada. The program provides participants up to a 5 oz serving of wine per hour between the hours of 8 am to 10 pm. More information
about this program can be found here.
Later in the afternoon, I caught the end of another segment on Fresh Air, also about addiction. Author Maia Szalavitz was being interviewed by Terri Gross on Fresh Air about her new book, Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction. The author’s opinion about treatment for addiction was somewhat in line with the Ottowa program. You can listen to the podcast of the interview here. I purchased the book online; received it today-stay tuned.
I did some research and discovered that this type of approach to addiction is not entirely new……..or unsubstantiated. In fact, Heroin Assisted Treatment in England dates back to the 1920’s. Click here to be directed to the Wikipedia page for Heroin Assisted Treatment.
Methadone Clinics focus on reducing or eliminating opioid use by replacing it with only enough methadone daily to achieve a steady state and facilitate as normal a life as possible for participants. As you might guess, Methadone Clinics seem to have a fair number of critics.
For supporters of Methadone Clinics, the criticism surrounds the Federal regulations which limit access to medication-assisted treatment. Currently, approved physicians may prescribe up to 30 patients at a time and after one year, may request to expand to 100 patients. The Federal Government is considering expanding it to 200 patients.
When executed properly, methadone can suppress symptoms of opioid withdrawal, decrease cravings and block the effects of other opioids.
All of the programs I am talking about have evidence to support that they reduce deaths from drug overdose, and reduce costs by way of reduced incarcerations and hospitalizations.
I understand that total abstinence is simply not an option for some. Addiction creates an environment where productivity and hope often cannot survive. If individuals are seeking treatment and agree to participate in a monitored program, I believe it can lead to enough clarity, rehabilitation and hope for an addict to function and be productive in society. It would certainly be a step in the right direction toward considering sobriety and a better life. And, it appears that there is evidence to support it.