Growing problem of prescription drug abuse

Apr 3 2010

Prescription painkiller abuse is a rapidly growing and widespread problem, recently coming into full view due to high profile stories and tragic celebrity deaths. Conflicting messaging and the degradation associated with addiction often mislead people from understanding it as a disease, caused by an imbalance of receptors in the brain. American Board of Addiction Medicine certified specialists, like Dr. Lee Tannenbaum, are well versed in the brain chemistry associated with addiction and provide patients with medication-based treatment, allowing them to regain their lives and get past the conspiracy that addiction is a choice and a weakness.

"Addiction isn't a personal failing or voluntary behavior that can be easily controlled," says Dr. Tannenbaum. "It's a complex, chronic disease that deserves to be treated as aggressively as other serious diseases like diabetes, asthma, and depression, but with the privacy and confidentiality the patient deserves. "

•5 million people misusing prescription pain meds in this country, which exceeds the number of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine users combined
•Recent study of brain chemistry proves addiction is a disease, which can be treated with medicine like many other diseases.
•The general medical community does not treat addiction as it treats other diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, although similar maintenance medication controls the disease and allows patients to lead happy and productive lives.
•The most widely accepted treatment for addiction is the Alcoholics Anonymous model, which has been used since the 1940s. No other medical treatment from the 1940s is still practiced today.
•Understanding addiction means understanding the basics of brain chemistry and how drug use actually alters the brain, teaching it that it needs the drug to survive.
•First-hand testimonials demonstrate incredible accounts of immediate and long-term success with the use of addiction medicine. http://blog.belaircenterforaddictions.com/?p=4