We’ve been hearing for years that the United States is in the grip of an opioid epidemic, but there are still many challenges to getting someone into and through a treatment program. Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This averages out to about 116 people dying every day. Why is it so hard to bring these numbers down when everyone knows how dangerous the drugs are? Part of the answer is, undoubtedly, that many users first started taking opioids to deal with pain and don’t want to go back to having any relief. Another problem – which can keep people from quitting on their own and going through with rehab because of the unpleasantness – is the withdrawal symptoms.
Stopping the use of opiates, including heroin and prescription painkillers, can cause withdrawal within mere hours of the last dose. Some of the symptoms are nausea, muscle cramps, depression, agitation, anxiety, sweating, gastrointestinal upset, insomnia, joint pain, and cravings, and they can last for up to a week. Going through medical detox at a treatment facility is a huge help, because of the access to medications and therapy to ease the symptoms. In addition to the more traditional medicines, the FDA has recently started to look to technology to help fight withdrawal and prevent relapse.
The NSS-2 Bridge is a small, battery-powered device called a percutaneous nerve field stimulator (PNFS) that is placed behind a patient’s ear. It was originally approved in 2014 for use in acupuncture. It emits electrical pulses that stimulate certain nerves that connect the brain with other areas of the body. The Bridge itself looks like a large hearing aid, and three electrodes are connected to the device by wires and place on or near the near. The device can be worn for up to five days during the acute physical withdrawal stage, or while all traces of a drug are leaving the body. After this, a person can transition to using medications to get through the last of the symptoms.
Unfortunately, we are still lacking in evidence as to how well the device actually works. There haven’t been many trials done, and the FDA is considerably less strict when it comes to approving devices rather than drugs. Some experts believe that any positive results reported might just be patients who are willing to try anything convincing themselves that it helped. It’s certainly more attractive than the idea of taking more, potentially addictive, medications. It’s also fairly expensive, with the manufacturer’s price set at $600. As of now, it’s not covered by insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid. Still, more testing might prove the Bridge to be at least a helpful part of opioid withdrawal, and certainly, any one of those 116 lives saved would be a positive.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
