Overall, the American public’s abuse of mind-altering opioids has grown into a national health crisis. In the past decades, doctors, researchers, and other members of the medical field have been struggling to combat the growing Opioid Epidemic. Interestingly, this massive problem (if you want to call it that) is rooted in one of the most easily preventable diseases on the planet: addiction. Nevertheless, you should still consider that prescription painkillers are not the only root of the crisis. Dangerous synthetic opioids like heroin and fentanyl are also making people drop like flies across the United States. So what on earth can we do to stop this or prevent it from spreading any further, in the least? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the solution may be simple. How is this possible? Let’s take a closer look at the HEAL Initiative and see why it could reverse the tide of the Opioid Crisis.
HEAL-ing the Public
Launched in June 2018 in response to the growing Opioid Crisis, the HEAL Initiative (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) has striven to bring hope to addicts and their families, as well as members of communities, who have been affected by this terrible epidemic. Overall, the HEAL Initiative aims to:
- Improve opioid abuse and addiction treatment as part of a prevention program
- Develop new methods for chronic pain management to diminish the threat of addiction
NIDA Joins the Fray
As of October 2018, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) has joined the HEAL initiative and has supervised four nationwide studies on medication development, communities, clinical trials, and the opioid innovation network. For example, medical professionals are developing safer medications that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose (one example is naloxone). Likewise, NIDA is going to take part in the Clinical Trials Network and provide public access to critical experiments. However, one particularly important aspect of the HEAL endeavor is providing opioid recovery treatment to individuals in jails and prisons.
Always remember that opioids do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
