Self-Detox Complicates the Opioid Crisis
Natural and Home Remedies Rise in Popularity
A 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) showed that 21.5 million Americans (12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2014.
With opioid abuse and heroin addiction having reached crisis levels throughout the United States, that number is only going higher. The situation is complicated by a rise in the promotion and popularity of home-based and “natural” drug treatment programs that promise efficacy, privacy, and affordability.
Turning to Home Withdrawal Remedies can be Dangerous
There are no self-detox or home withdrawal treatments approved by the FDA or the medical community, nor is there any evidence-based science to back up claims about such methods.
By attempting to self-detox, individuals expose themselves to significant dangers, from how home withdrawal methods may affect existing health conditions to possible interactions with ongoing medications.
The symptoms of withdrawal from heroin and opioids can be extremely unpleasant at best and life threatening under the wrong circumstances. Finally, in the absence of an active support network, the dangers of self-detox are undertaken with a high probability of relapse.
All of these reasons advocate for professional intervention and the care of trained personnel.
You can learn more by reading the blog entry Drug Withdrawal Home Remedies on our website.
Kratom Could Worsen the Opioid Crisis
Kratom is derived from a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. When consumed, Kratom leaves provide a stimulant effect at low doses and an opioid-like high at increased dosage. Street names include Krypton, Thang, and Kakuam.
Available in capsules, tablets, extracts, and other forms, Kratom has gained popularity as a means of alleviating the pain associated with opiate withdrawal.
Though legal in 44 states, Kratom is classified as a Schedule 1 substance in Indiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Vermont, Arkansas, and Alabama. The problem is that Kratom itself is an addictive drug with side-effects, withdrawal symptoms, and overdose dangers.
It is on the DEA’s list of drugs and chemicals of concern.
Like situations in which addicts turn to marijuana as an aid in weaning away from heroin and opioids, the end result is often the temporary trade of one addiction for another, followed by relapse.
To learn more about the Kratom controversy, read our Article, Kratom, the False Alternative.
Happy Holidays!
DTPM Grew Tremendously in 2017, Thanks to You!
Established in 1993, DTPM today has grown to be one of the nation’s largest providers of comprehensive laboratory solutions.
If you are one of the treatment centers, physician’s offices, drug courts, or other clinical lab settings that have found our services to be valuable, even indispensable, you have our most sincere thanks for a wonderful relationship.
Our goal is nothing short of your success.
Toward that end, we never stand still. We’ve been improving our services and creating a truly turnkey set of solutions for laboratory setup, management & supply. Today we offer:
- Analyzers, supplies, and accessories
- Methods development, management support, and staffing
- Expert assistance in obtaining CLIA license and meeting HIPAA compliance
- State-of-the-art laboratory management information systems
- Extensive training, support, and 24-hour assistance
We hope you appreciate our approach of being “national in scope, but local in service.”
Our sincere wishes to you, your families, and your employees for a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
To learn more about how DTPM can help your drug testing lab run efficiently and profitably, whether in a treatment center, drug court, physician’s office, or medical facility, call us at 256-845-1261 or visit our Contact us page today.