My posts have been poetic, story, musings and my opinions. My opinion pieces have been about epilepsy, addictions and the state of affairs in the world. I have offered book reviews, movie reviews and an occassional play review. My life is pretty full and interesting.
Today’s post is inspired by an hour long seminar about Suboxone maintenance and Opiate addiction. Both topics can fill much longer than an hour, but for today a small group of health care professionals gathered to listen to a presentation about Suboxone, the medication we use for opiate withdrawal at the Detox where I work.
So much has been learned about the brain and still there is more to learn. For this nurse, brain function and the brain changes that occur in any addiction is the most important part of any level of addiction care. From those that work in street clinics and community teams to those of us employed in withdrawal managment or hospitals to the counselors, social workers and nurses that work in treatment centers across this continent, we are all working with individuals with varying levels of brain dysfunction. Although neuroplasticity can rebuild some of the damage, that rebuild will take years to complete and only with long term life stability.
Long term opiate abuse has increased in Canada by leaps and bounds with the development of a variety of narcotic pain killers. The advent of the drug Suboxone (buprenorphrine/naloxone), has allowed those addicted to the longer acting opiates, to complete a withdrawal process, because of how it works in the brain at the level of opioid receptors within the brain. Brain changes also occur in long term abuse of any of other drugs whether prescription, illicit drugs, or alcohol.
Possibilities for pharmaceutical assistance in aiding those with opiate addiction were expanded. Problems arise with matters of funding for continued therapy, availability of clinics and pharmacies that manage Suboxone and the stability of individual life styles. These problems occur far too frequently, barriers yet to be addressed effectively. I continue to hope that these barriers are recognized and addressed.
“The hard things in life, the things you really
learn from, happen with a clear mind.”
~ Caroline Knapp, Drinking: A Love Story
My posts have been poetic, story, musings and my opinions. My opinion pieces have been about epilepsy, addictions and the state of affairs in the world. I have offered book reviews, movie reviews and an occassional play review. My life is pretty full and interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment