At some point during the day, we feel some sort of pain or discomfort. Whether you stubbed your toe on the edge of a chair or sprained your ankle while rock climbing, pain is a natural part of being a soft, fleshy, living creature filled with constantly firing nerve-endings. However, we can manage a few bumps and bruises, but, for a select few, that pain can transcend our understanding. Imagine being a cancer patient receiving lifesaving chemo that burns like white-hot fire in the veins, or suffering from a neck injury, leaving you immobilized and unable to sleep during the pain of recovery. For these people, opioids are immensely beneficial and can provide incredible relief. So where did America go wrong? How did these little saving grace drugs become dangerous killers? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Saving One Life at a Time
Initially, opioids were created as a failsafe system, which could only be opened up if a patient was suffering from unmanageable, intolerable pain. For example, some of the first consumes of opioid drugs were cancer patients or people suffering from incurable diseases. During this time, doctors were cautious about prescribing these painkillers to people with lesser types of pain, as they believed the drugs were too strong. However, in 1980, a letter sent to the New England Journal of Medicine stated that only four out of 11,882 patients suffered from addiction after consuming opioids.
Explosion of Opioids
After countless debates and studies, opioid prescribing exploded in the 1980s. Now, any person with chronic pain and any person who was recovering from a surgical procedure could receive an opioid prescription from their doctors. Finally, from 1990 to 1995, the rate of opioid use skyrocketed from 2 million to 3 million people every year, and, in 1995, Purdue Pharma made its now-infamous decision to release OxyContin on the market.
So who caused the Opioid Crisis? Did it start with that New England Journal letter? Whether it was the doctors or Big Pharma, we’ll never know…for now.
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Opioid use disorder is easily one of the most terrifying substance use disorders on the planet, mostly because opioid addiction partially stems from a large number of drugs that are legally regulated by the federal government. For decades, our country has suffered beneath the weight of dangerous synthetics and legal painkillers, and millions of Americans have suffered from addiction throughout the 20 years the crisis has been brewing. However, you can make the right decision by taking a stand against your addiction and regaining your health and happiness.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of opioid withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.
