Revolutionary Drug Research Breakthrough Offers A Light At The End Of The Dark Tunnel For Heroin And Prescription Painkiller Addiction
The war against the addiction to opioid drugs in a multitude of forms ranging from morphine and heroin to prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percodan often feels like a never-ending war. Whether the drugs are obtained legally or illegally, once a person becomes addicted the battle to become clean is a struggle against one of the most manifestations of chosen slavery in our world. ONE80CENTER is amazed by the news of a new medical breakthrough that could possibly signal a turn in the battle and a path that could lead to a new era of freedom from prescription painkiller abuse and opioid addiction.
Naloxone And The Body’s Immune System Response
A new drug that could be a revolutionary breakthrough in both the treatment of addicts and the long-term management of chronic pain can block the immune system mechanics behind opiate addiction. Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia in conjunction with colleagues at the University of Colorado in the United States have pinpointed a key mechanism in the body’s immune system that amplifies addiction to opioid drugs. The results of the study showed that the drug (+)-naloxone (pronounced: PLUS nal-OX-own – a mirror-image drug to the widely known naloxone, or (-)-naloxone) would selectively block the immune-addiction response.
The results – which could eventually lead to new co-formulated drugs as assist patients with severe pain, as well as ending heroin addiction and prescription painkiller abuse, was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The team has focused its research efforts on the immune receptor known as Toll-Like receptor 4 (TLR4).
Dr. Mark Hutchinson Leads The Research Team
The lead author of the study, Dr. Mark Hutchinson said:
Dr. Mark Hutchinson & The New Drug Naloxone
“Our studies have shown conclusively that we can block addiction via the immune system of the brain, without targeting the brain’s wiring… Both the central nervous system and the immune system play important roles in creating addiction, but our studies have shown we only need to block the immune response in the brain to prevent cravings for opioid drugs… Opioid drugs such as morphine and heroin bind to TLR4 in a similar way to the normal immune response to bacteria. The problem is that TLR4 then acts as an amplifier for addiction. The drug (+)-naloxone automatically shuts down the addiction. It shuts down the need to take opioids, it cuts out behaviors associated with addiction, and the neurochemistry in the brain changes – dopamine, which is the chemical important for providing that sense of ‘reward’ from the drug, is no longer produced.”
The researchers said that opioid drugs such as morphine and heroin bind to immune receptors in the brain known as TLR4 which then act as amplifiers for addiction, ramping up the “reward” effect of drugs of abuse to a high degree. The new drug automatically shuts this effect down. “It really reduces the reward level down to the equivalent of food, sex, and hugs,” said Dr. Mark Hutchinson. In addition, senior author Professor Linda Watkins, from the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, went on to explain: “This work fundamentally changes what we understand about opioids, reward and addiction. We’ve suspected for some years that TLR4 may be the key to blocking opioid addiction, but now we have the proof.”
Clinical Trials In Eighteen Months?
Though clinical Trials are still 18 months away, Watkins goes on to say that she and her colleagues “believe this will prove extremely useful as a co-formulated drug with morphine, so that patients who require relief for severe pain will not become addicted but still receive pain relief. This has the potential to lead to major advances in patient and palliative care.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the United States and the Australian Research Council (ARC) funded this study. Clinical trials for the new drug may be possible within the next 18 months.
The clinical staff at ONE80CENTER celebrates the findings and supports the positive applications of such revolutionary research. If we can stop opiate addiction at the onset by preventing the basic mechanisms of addiction from functioning, the battle potentially could be won. Although people wanting the intoxicating effects would still abuse the drugs, the costs and toll of opiate addiction could be rapidly decreased and lessened. As the research updates about the new drug continue to come out, ONE80CENTER will post future info about this incredible breakthrough in the battle against heroin addiction and prescription painkiller abuse.
Destroying Old Belief Systems in Sobriety
DESTROYING OLD BELIEF SYSTEMS IN SOBRIETY…
One of my favorite quotes in the world is this one- “All that is gold does not glitter. All those who wander are not lost.” It really bringshome the idea that everyone is exactly where they are supposed to be. It also speaks of value systems- what one person may consider wandering and being aimless, may actually be someone finding their way- or that things of real value might not look like it at first. Like in Indiana Jones, when he goes into the ancient ruins to fetch the Holy Grail. He looks at all the beautiful, golden, jewel encrusted cups in front of him, and he selects the crudest one, made out of clay. That clumsy mud chalice was the sacred object so many had sought after.
All that is gold does not glitter. All those who wander are not lost.
tape, and finding gifts of great value. Initially, we go for what is appealing. But if you consider what it means when something is appealing, what is it speaking to? Something that is attractive to us holds the promise of awesomeness. Alcohol and drugs were like that, for me. They both whispered to me empty promises, they told me I was funnier, more social, more bold. They told me things would be better with a drink in my hand and a straw in my nose. I would be more creative. People would like me more. I would like me more. Lies! The Ego wants everything to be fabulous, all the time, while it sucks your blood dry. It loves it when we believe the lies that will eventually destroy us. Bad old Ego.
UC San Diego Study Discovers Adolescent Neural Patterns That Reveal Greater Risk For Future Problem Drinking And Potential Alcoholism
In a cutting edge study whose important findings honestly did not surprise the Clinical Staff at ONE80CENTER, researchers at the University of California at San Diego have uncovered adolescent neural patterns that contribute to our understanding of the biological origins of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The study revealed adolescent neural patterns and brain activity in adolescents that imply a greater future risk of problem drinking and alcoholism. The finding will be published in the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Adolescent Neural Patterns & Alcohol Abuse Risk
Tracking 40 12- to 16-year-olds who reportedly had not started drinking yet but were on the verge of entering that phase of adolescence, the study conducted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans on their brains. The study lasted for over three years and tracked the progress of their children and their reported experiences with alcohol. Half of the teens started to drink alcohol fairly heavily during this interval. The researchers discovered that kids who showed less activation in certain brain areas were at greater risk for becoming abusers of alcohol and potential problem drinkers.
Teen Drinking & Brain Activity Studied
Once the problem teens started drinking, their brain activity looked like the brain activity of heavy drinkers in previous studies conducted. Specifically, their brains showed more activity as they tried to perform memory tests. This pattern of heavy drinking typically included episodes of having four or more drinks on an occasion for females and five or more drinks for males. “That’s the opposite of what you’d expect, because their brains should be getting more efficient as they get older,” said lead researcher Lindsay M. Squeglia, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego. The findings add to evidence that heavy drinking has consequences for teenagers’ developing brains.
Predict Problem Drinking With Adolescent Neural Patterns
Although we have not yet learned all the clinical details of the study, ONE80CENTER will update this account with a future report on the specific findings. The study clearly adds a new layer to past research: there are adolescent neural patterns that predict which kids are at increased risk for heavy drinking. Such pre-existing vulnerability if understood could offer ammunition for preventative measures. Pre-existing vulnerabilities beyond family history and genetic predisposition that could be identified early through brain scans would be an effective tool in the battle against alcoholism. ONE80CENTER always has believed in the value of prevention and education. The problem with this notion of scanning all teenagers for possible alcohol abuse tendencies is that it may not be considered cost effective.
In addition, other recent studies have implied that environmental factors can be as powerful and damaging to adolescents as genetic factors. Such environmental factors shown to be damaging to adolescents, leading to problem drinking and potential alcoholism include exposure to advertising in the media, lifestyle choices related to class and money, and overall social and cultural wildcards. “You’re learning to drive, you’re getting ready for college. This is a really important time of your life for cognitive development,” commented lead researcher Squeglia. ONE80CENTER looks forward to seeing the results of the whole study and helping to strategize how to apply them in future prevention and educational methodologies.
Intervention — Confronting My Daughter About Her Addiction
CONFRONTING MY DAUGHTER ABOUT HER ADDICTION TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Getting my Daughter to agree to go to treatment was not the dramatic blood bath I thought it might be. Sometimes families need an “Intervention” in order to persuade the Alcoholic/addict to seek help. This is done by a professional interventionist who gathers family and friends together who collectively recommend rehab.
The Journey To Treatment
The prospect of confronting my daughter, coupled with the desperate measures we had become willing to take felt terrifying. She was so unpredictable and reactive that I suspected she might bolt or go on another crazy drinking and drugging spree. However I learned there were ways to minimize that risk. Here are some of the measures we took when persuading her to go to treatment:
- Choose a quiet moment to talk to the alcoholic. They are much more likely to hear what you have to say if it is not in the middle of a row or at the peak of a drama.
- Never confront an alcoholic by yourself. I made sure I was not alone when I broached the subject of treatment. If possible bring in as many support team members as possible. My husband was with me in the room and we also had the support of her therapist and psychiatrist, who had backed our decision and were not prepared to endorse her way of doing things. It is so important to have support, as it helps us to stay on target and not give into games and manipulation.
- Keep Calm. I made sure that what I had to say was said LOVINGLY but FIRMLY. Addicts and alcoholics will get defensive at a drop of a hat, so it is important not to give them ammunition by letting our own behavior slip; this means loss of temper ,name calling and being abusive. In Al-Anon they say, ‘Mean what you say but don’t say it mean!‘
- Stick to “I” and “We” statements. For example: “I feel concerned about you…I am frightened you are going to harm yourself.” My husband and I listed examples of her behavior that really alarmed us and said that we were afraid for her safety. We had become used to our home being a danger zone. I would have to hide valuables and lock up my purse and all medication. Strange people would come in and out at all hours and when she got angry she would smash bits of furniture. I lived in a permanent state of high adrenalin just waiting for the other shoe to drop. My husband and I had forgotten what normal life looked like. Most of all, we were unable to parent our two other children in any consistent fashion.
- Stay consistent and firm. I was prone to giving into her manipulation and had just started to draw more serious limits with her such as, “No matter what you say, we will not live with active addiction.” She was throwing back comments like: “I don’t have a problem…You two are crazy to think I have a problem…You should be able to handle me as I am…You just want to get rid of me…This is all your fault…You are terrible parents…” and, “Who wouldn’t drink with a Mother like you!“ At one point I had allowed lines like this to absorb into me. I had felt guilty and responsible, which had led to my giving into her demands on many an occasion. Thanks to regular Al-Anon meetings, I realized I had a part to play in this destructive dance by enabling her: I let her off the hook and gave her money when she demanded. I had learned that the illness of Alcoholism is cunning, baffling and powerful, and it will do anything and say anything to protect itself. We had to just repeat ourselves in a gentle way.
- Set limits and boundaries. In our case this meant refusing to continue to fund her lifestyle. Luckily she had no money of her own and nowhere to live and was utterly dependent on us for all her material needs. My husband and I said that we would no longer give her money and support in her studying unless she agreed to go to rehab. This made her sit up and listen. We had to be 100% committed in following through on this, otherwise it was just another empty threat.
Amazingly (and after her initial rant) she agreed to try treatment for a few weeks. She even appeared relieved. Looking back, I think it might have been terrifying for her to be so out of control. Some drug addicts and alcoholics do not know where that next drink will lead them; it may be coming out of a blackout not knowing where they are or what time it is, or behind bars with a DUI. The only predictable thing about alcoholism is that it gets worse.
- Be ready to go. We had treatment all set a up and a bed ready and waiting . It was important to seize the moment once she had agreed as she could back track at any moment . We had to act quickly before she had time to change her mind. We planned to take her to treatment the following morning .
- Be prepared for one last drinking/using spree. Our daughter behaved as many addicts do by getting completely loaded the night before entering rehab. She was still high when I drove her to the center. Even though she threw out the odd venomous remark on our 45 minute drive such as I was able to let a lot of it wash off me. The important thing was that she was willing to give it a try. I had hope that this could be entering new and better chapter of our lives.
- Commend THEIR decision to seek help. Even though we may have orchestrated the various elements in finding a rehab it is ultimately their decision and they are taking a huge step in dealing with their addiction.
- Finally and most important of all TAKE CARE of yourself. If it looks like the situation is becoming dangerous or abusive the best thing we can do is get out of the way of the oncoming train. Accepting violence and abuse helps none.
She behaved as many addicts do by getting completely loaded the night before entering rehab. She was still high when I drove her to the center. Even though she threw out the odd venomous remark on our 45 minute drive such as I was able to let a lot of it wash off me. The important thing was that she was willing to give it a try. I had hope that this could be entering new and better chapter of our lives.
After More Than A Decade, Purdue Pharma, The Maker Of OxyContin, Agrees To Conduct A Clinical Study Of How The Prescription Painkiller Affects The Young
The effect of OxyContin on the young is finally going to be examined in a clinical study. More than a decade ago, federal regulators asked Purdue Pharma, the producer of the widely abused narcotic painkiller, OxyContin, to run such a trial. Although they started a study, it was dropped it in 2004 when the wealthy pharmaceutical giant cited limited financial resources. ONE80CENTER questions the validity of such a claim, considering the amount of profit that was being generated by Oxycontin prescription sales at the time. Without question, the Clinical Staff at ONE80CENTER believes that if prescription painkillers are going to be prescribed, they should be thoroughly tested across the board.
Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act of 1997
With OxyContin’s patent set to expire in 2013, the company has not surprisingly begun a huge study of young patients on the account of the huge financial incentive involved. By conducting the study, the company opens the possibility for a patent extension that is literally worth worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In 1997, Congress passed the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, the statute that created the incentive for drug makers to test their pharmaceutical products on young patients. Among the incentives is a possible six-month extension of protection from generic competition after a drug’s patent expired.
OxyContin Last-Gasp Exploitation
Since the time that the F.D.A. asked Purdue to conduct the research, doctors have prescribed OxyContin to tens of thousands of children and teenagers without the benefit of study data to guide them. The company’s long delay in complying with the Food and Drug Administration’s request has angered many in the recovery community. “It looks to me like a raw, crass, last-gasp exploitation of a drug that has been synonymous with misuse, abuse and harm to patients,” said Dr. Arthur Caplan, the head of the division of medical ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Senator Richard Blumenthal Fights OxyContin
Senator Richard Blumenthal & OxyContin Battle
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat of Connecticut who investigated Purdue Pharma while attorney general of that state, said that while the company might benefit from the pediatric testing law, its delay in running the OxyContin trial did not appear to reflect the statute’s spirit. Senator Blumenthal illuminated his point when he said: “If a drug is going to be used on children, tests to ascertain its safety should be run as early as possible.” Another problem is that so little is known about OxyContin’s long-term risks in adults, much less children. As a result, this study is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. The Clinical Staff ONE80CENTER agrees with Senator Blumenthal that such a study comes way too late after so much damage has already been done. Rather than an attempt to actually help, it comes across as a hypocritical ploy to keep the profits of Purdue Pharma flowing at the expense of the American consumer.
NPR Reveals Suboxone Abuse As The So-Called Answer To Prescription Painkiller Addiction As The Drug Moves To The Black Market
Although Suboxone appears like an answer to prescription narcotics addiction and illegal heroin and opiate addiction, it is pointed out in an NPR probing report that it is also a very dangerous drug that should be managed only under the guidance of an addiction professional. Unfortunately, more and more addicts are turning to the black market and dealers to maintain their Suboxone supply in the tradition of marijuana maintenance. ONE80CENTER has used Suboxone to help wean clients off heroin and serious prescription narcotics like Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin, but only in the context of a treatment environment that is controlled and monitored. At the same time, we have treated clients unable to wean themselves off of Suboxone after being repeatedly prescribed it by hands-off physicians and medical professionals.
Suboxone Becomes Narcotic Addiction Maintenance
When Suboxone addicts have a hard time getting prescriptions, they are turning more and more to a growing black market for the prescription drug. Suboxone is very different from prescription painkillers and illegal narcotics. With the generic name buprenorphine, it is very hard to overdose on. Addicts mainly take Suboxone to avoid withdrawal symptoms and manage their cravings. But the use of the drug can become a maintenance addiction in and of itself as it helps people get back into the flow of daily life. But not without a dependence on Suboxone as a maintenance drug that often leads to relapse and greater difficulties.
Prescription Painkiller Addiction Rate Out Of Control
In the NPR report that is focused on New Mexico, we learn the state has the highest fatal drug overdose rate in the country, and it has battled against one of the worst heroin epidemics seen in any state. In addition, a recent report from the New Mexico Department of Health shows the sales of opioid pain relievers that are popular recreational drugs increased by 131% between 2001 and 2010. “A lot of physicians are very resistant to prescribing Suboxone because they fear it will attract opiate addicts to their practices which brings with it a whole can of worms in terms of managing those clients,” says Seth Williams, a nurse practitioner who treats the homeless in Albuquerque. ONE80CENTER believes that Suboxone should only be used as a temporary transition that leads to actual sobriety and a sustainable path of long-term recovery.
Suboxone Abuse Generates A Black Market
Buprenorphine — the main ingredient in Suboxone — has become one of the only drug s that doctors can prescribe in their offices to treat heroin and pain pill addiction. Because it is an opiate, the regulations are strict. Doctors have to complete a special training, and there’s a limit to the number of patients they can see. But the need for opiate treatment has drastically increased so Suboxone has moved to the black market.
Since the prescription drug overdose death rate in the US is three times what it was in 1999, ONE80CENTER believes that Suboxone should be used when it can be monitored and help to reduce the damage done by opiate addicts. As a harm reduction methodology, Suboxone makes sense, but not as a long-term answer.
Suboxone Black Market Is Not The Answer
If Suboxone gains a reputation as a street drug answer to narcotics addiction, a bad problem will only grow worse. NPR raised a lot of valuable answers in its piece on the challenges of Suboxone. If anything, it falls right in line with the ONE80CENTER belief that the prescription painkiller problem in America is only getting worse and needs to be addressed by professionals. Harm reduction and drug maintenance strategies are not the long-term answer for addiction. The only true answer is sustainable recovery in the form of a commitment to true sobriety.
The Search for the Miraculous In Recovery
MIRACLE / n.-
a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is considered to be divine.
Recently I spoke with a new friend over lunch about the miracles of life in recovery. It’s a subject that I will never tire of, because in truth, there really isn’t anything quite as interesting as hearing about how events synchronized in just such a perfect way, as if some invisible hand was guiding things along with that exact ending in mind. I rescind–there IS one thing more interesting than hearing stories like that, and it’s living in that zone where life always feels like you are being protected and guided by invisible forces. It’s fascinating to talk to others who also live in that zone, and then you have confirmation that this place is really a magical fountain of possibility available to anyone who seeks it, or, as one of my favorite quotes goes: “The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”
Miracles make the very vivid statement that 1) a loving God was intervening 2) to overturn the painful way that things normally work here, so that 3) sickness and suffering could be replaced with healing and happiness.
-from A Course In Miracles
Miracles Happen
him. I believe the newcomer had 30 days sober. Maybe they had called my friend to ask about a meeting, and the conversation turned into this life or death situation that he was facing. The newcomer heard the doctor’s name and perked up; not only did he know the physician in question, they were related! He was able to make the phone call that saved the life of my friend, who is now cancer free. It would have been great if they could have met, but that newcomer relapsed, overdosed and died. But in that one moment, all of the pieces fell into place, and a miracle happened.
Finding a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center For a Loved One Is Not As Overwhelming As You Think
FINDING A DUAL DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT CENTER
Having had my moment of clarity – the realization that I could not manage my daughter’s recovery – and having realized that I needed to turn her care over to professionals, it dawned on me that I had no idea where to look for a suitable residential treatment center. I was so adrenalized that it had become hard for me to focus. I felt totally jumbled and chaotic and kept getting paralyzed by questions like, how are we going to pay for this? Although it felt like my husband and I had made the right decision, the question remained: Would my daughter agree to go? Finally, was I “opting out” of my own responsibilities by sending her away. I was her Mother and therefore was it my mess to clean up ? My head just kept spinning and I needed to get some advice so I went to AL-anon.
My Al-anon sponsor had asked me, “What is the greatest good for all concerned?” and quoted the first tradition of Al-anon which is: Our common welfare should come first. When I applied this to our family situation it left no doubt in my mind: Sending my daughter to treatment was the best for all of us and it gave us a break to all get some healing and recovery.
CHECKLIST FOR THE IDEAL TREATMENT PROGRAM
Creating a Checklist For the Ideal Treatment Center.
Luckily (and in another moment of clarity), I decided to ask for help from two friends. One was an eminent Los Angeles psychiatrist and the other was a family therapist. Both had worked with clients with dual diagnosis issues. Both knew about my daughter’s addiction and mental health problems, and were aware of our family’s history going back several years. And of course, both were highly supportive of our decision. When they asked me what I wanted for her, I wrote a list (Mary Poppins style, I might add) and here is what I came up with:
1. A rehab program modeled on the 12 steps of AA. This seemed to be the most effective and long lasting way of treating alcoholism and addiction. I had many friends who had multiple years of sobriety and were leading healthy productive lives.
2. A place with an awareness of secondary illnesses such as food and sex addiction. My husband and I had noticed that our daughter had a tendency to swap one addiction for another, so this was a priority.
3. Our ideal treatment center would identify itself as a legitimate dual diagnosis (mental health issues as well as addiction) facility. If the treatment center had a psychiatrist on staff, all the better. There was a giant question mark looming over our daughter’s depression diagnosis; we wanted to know that it would be correctly identified and, if necessary, medicated. If there was no on-site physician, then it was mandatory that she be in regular contact with a doctor.
4. It was also important that she receive intensive family therapy and support, as I was aware that our family dynamic needed attention. We were all at each other’s throats at the drop of a hat and used to scapegoating the alcoholic. Our whole family needed to find a way to heal and to learn to live peacefully with one another.
5. We wanted highly trained therapists who were used to dealing with young people.
6. My daughter had lost the ability to look after herself in very basic ways, so nutrition and exercise were also really important.
7. Given the nature of my daughter’s problems, we hoped for a place that offered long-term treatment so she could gradually assimilate back into normal life.
8. Finally, we wanted somewhere that took our insurance and that would be able to work with us (financially speaking) should our coverage expire before her treatment was finished.
I began to feel the tiniest bit of hope.
After reading this wish list to my psychiatrist friend, he suggested a place that met all the criteria. I was lucky enough to have a guild insurance that covered my family, but I was not sure it covered residential treatment. When I called the admissions office at the treatment program he suggested, they informed me that while they did not accept my insurance they worked with and heartily endorsed a place that might. I Googled their recommendation and found that it met all of my requirements, plus it also offered a comprehensive aftercare program. They were exceptionally compassionate and went out of their way at every step of the process…and yes, they worked with my insurance company (which agreed to cover up to 45 days of treatment). The synchronicity was extraordinary!
Everything seemed to fall magically into place and I began to feel the tiniest bit of hope.
RECOVERY ON TV – Shedding Good Light (and Bad) On a Tough Issue
RECOVERY ON TV
Recovery on TV - a sensitive issue that deserves to be handled with care
A Prescription Drug Not Designed To Treat Insomnia, Klonopin, a brand name of Clonazepam, Leads To Dependence And Serious Side Effects As Shown In Salon Article
In a powerful personal piece about her troubles with Klonopin and zombie-like side effects that drained her creativity, Diana Spechler uncovers how prescription drugs can be misprescribed. The Clinical Staff at ONE80CENTER believes it is important to prescribe prescription drugs with caution and as they are intended in order to avoid such negative outcome. Klonopin, a popular brand name of the benzodiazepine Clonazepam, was not originally designed as a treatment for insomnia. Although benzodiazepines, or benzos as users and abusers know them, does enhance naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that promote sleep, it also has countless side effects and extreme addictive properties.
Often Misprescribed, Klonopin Side Effects
The Happy K Of The Prescription Drug Klonopin
Like Valium and Xanax, Klonopin often is used to treat anti-anxiety disorders, panic attacks and certain forms of epilepsy. Although the FDA has not approved clonazepam for the treatment of insomnia, countless doctors prescribe it off-label to treat clients and patients complaining of an inability to sleep. The side effects of Klonopin include behavioral problems, lack of muscular coordination, and a number of other side effects that manifest in rare cases. There is a strong risk of dependency, abuse and addiction with benzos. In addition, Klonopin reacts poorly with a number of over-the-counter medications and even herbal remedies. The prescription drug has a history of being particularly deadly when combined with alcohol.
Diane Spechler And Klonopin On Salon
To read the entire article by Spechler on the Salon site, please click on this link — http://www.salon.com/2012/07/28/my_klonopin_fog/
Suffering from insomnia for countless years, Spechler was prescribed Klonopin by her therapist. At first, she believed the drug was a miracle answer to her insomnia. Spechler writes:
If the middle of the night had once been a storm cloud, it was now a fluffy cumulus. Daytime, too, felt dreamy and tranquil. “I love Klonopin!” I told everyone I knew. Like a new convert, I tuned out the naysayers, who decried benzos as addictive. “I’m on a minuscule dose,” I assured them. I kept saying, “It’s changed my whole life.”
But Spechler quickly discovered a number of adverse side effects as she began to take the prescription drug on a regular basis. Her emotions narrowed, her personality became muted, and her creativity shriveled. A professional writer, Spechler describes what happened in an evocative voice that is both engaging and descriptive. She experienced the worse writer’s block of her life and became depressed and embarrassed. When she did write, the results were second-rate as though her creativity has been drained away.
Luckily, Spechler was able to break out of the zombie-like side effects and throw away her pills before experiencing extreme dependence. Afterwards, she looked into the causes behind what happened to her and was surprised by what she found. She writes:
In retrospect, I should have done more research. Well-known benzo side effects include “emotional clouding” and “loss of creativity,” which can be distressing whether someone wants to make art or not. “I have not been able to feel anything … in three years. I can’t even cry right,” wrote one member of BenzoBuddies Community Forum, an online group for people withdrawing from benzodiazepines.
ONE80CENTER is happy that Spechler found freedom from Klonopin before her problem spiraled out of control into actual dependence, abuse or addiction. If you or a loved one is having problems with Klonopin, the clinical staff at ONE80CENTER has the experience and the expertise to provide a medically monitored detox and a road to long-term sustainable recovery. To learn more, please call (888) 588-4180 for help and a free consultation.
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Addiction Research
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What Is Gratitude?
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