Opiate overdose is such a problem in the U.S. that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has labeled it an epidemic. Everyday, about 44 people will be prescribed an opioid for pain management. Some of them will become addicted. Prescription drugs are just as dangerous as other illegal drugs, if not more so. In 2014, about 10,500 people died from a heroin overdose. That same year over 28,000 people died from an opiate overdose.
Something needs to be done. Many drug addicts fear the withdrawal period and refuse to seek treatment. But there is another way: ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction boasts a reduction of 98% of the post-acute withdrawal symptoms patients (PAWS) experience. Below are three things to remember when seeking help.
Opioids: The Good Times Won’t Last.
An opiate is a natural or synthetic chemical that binds to the body’s receptors in the brain, such as endorphins. The body produces its own opiate-like chemicals known as endogenous opiates, which control our reactions to pain stimuli. We all know that consuming different drugs cause different effects: caffeine is a stimulant; alcohol is a depressant; and opiates create a euphoric experience. The problem, of course, is that the more the drug is used, the more needs to be used to recapture that original feeling. And that leads to trouble.
This is an old story, one we all know in this day and age. But it is anything but prosaic when it happens to you or someone you know. It feels different because you thought you would be different. The solution may seem mundane, however; when dealing with opiates it is best to have help. A controlled environment to go through withdrawal in is the safest option. A center dedicated to assisting with the withdrawal process understands that there are two stages. The first is primarily physical, and the second is more emotionally and mentally focused. It is necessary to heal both the body and mind.
Pick Your Poison: It Goes By Many Names.
Oxycontin addiction, Oxycodone addiction, Codeine, Hydrocodone, and of course the super potent Fentanyl are all commonly prescribed opioids. There is one other drug you should know about: ibogaine. It comes from the plant Tabernanthe iboga from West Central Africa. It is currently labeled a Schedule I drug in the U.S. pending further clinical trials. Ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction has caused a stir because of its claims to reduce up to 98% of the negative effects of opioid withdrawal, such as the craving for more stimulants and alcohol. Not addressing the fallout can lead to trouble, and the addict has been through enough at that point.
For those who would love to cut down on most of the withdrawal process, it is necessary to find an ibogaine clinic outside of the U.S. Now, that may be unreasonable for many. On the other hand, depending on the location of the clinic it could be a convenient way of keeping their prediction under wraps from family, friends, etc. There is something unseemly about drug addiction, even though it effects so many people. Do not let this prevent you or someone you know seeking help for a terrible illness.
Kick the Addiction Before It Makes You Kick the Bucket.
We are a nation of pill-takers. Pain relief for colds, migraines, aches, etc. are seen as harmless quick-fixes. No one bats an eye at taking several pills for different problems. The rise in opiate addiction is attributable to a few sources that amount to basically blind-spots in the medical community and public awareness. The causes are for others to figure out how to solve. What matters now is helping those people who have found themselves dependent on a few little pills that have the power to destroy their life.
Can the Ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction really help people? The short answer is this: anything that gets a person to ask for help and quit is really helpful. Now, ibogaine treatment for opiate addiction is not available in the U.S. You have to go to it and meet halfway, so to speak. But if it helps you get your life back, it may be worth the journey.
