San Luis Obispo
Addiction Recovery
Center
Compassionate Treatment of Substance Abuse
Treat Addiction -- Save Lives
Click here to go to our SLOARC blog site active real people from our center!
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Compassionate Treatment of Substance Abuse
Treat Addiction -- Save Lives Click here to go to our SLOARC blog site active real people from our center! |
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Patient C with addendum! Like many, my addiction began as a legitimate injury (lower back pain). My family physician prescribed pain medication and I felt better (I was 27 at this time). Soon after this legitimate need for pain medication, I began seeking drugs to maintain that euphoric feeling! Of course the more you use pain medicine, the more you need. So, I began “Dr. shopping” and Internet shopping and engaged in other illicit means as a way to feed my addiction. At one point, I began stealing morphine from my mother in-law who is prescribed pain medications for a legitimate purpose. Fast forwarding three years – I knew I was an addict and that I needed help. I had attempted to quit by “tapering” (slowly weaning off the drugs.) I tried “cold turkey” (simply stopping and suffering through withdrawals.) I made many honest attempts with the same result – relapse. After many years of abusing these powerful narcotics, I decided to “come clean” with my family and my family doctor. My family physician refereed me to an addiction specialist, Dr. K. Dane Howalt. I made an appointment with Dr. Howalt and was immediately brought in for an interview. Dr. Howalt described an “outpatient” treatment program that would minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce the cravings for opiates. This treatment program used a medication called “Suboxone”. At first I was skeptical – I simply wanted to quit – I did not want to “trade one drug for another” - period. However, my previous attempts were not successful and I was very willing to listen to this specialist. Fast forward six months – I did begin the Suboxone treatment program. For me, this treatment program is working very well. At this time, I have no cravings for opiate drugs - none. I no longer obsess and fixate about where the next pills will come from (monthly I consult with Dr. Howalt in the privacy of his office knowing Dr. Howalt will ensure that I am receiving the proper care for my addiction). The cost of this program is not even close to what I was spending “on the streets” feeding my addiction. The medications that are prescribed are covered by my insurance company. Most importantly, after six months, I am getting my life back and beginning to address being a recovering addict. Now I simply get up in the morning, take one medically prescribed Suboxone, and just get on with my day. Dr. Howalt strongly advised I attend 12-Step meetings (Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous). At first I seriously questioned the value of these sessions. However, Dr Howalt encouraged me to keep attending telling me the results would be become self-evident. After six months of meetings I do see the rationale. Nobody outside of 12-Step meetings will understand your needs, concerns, issues, problems, feelings, emotions, etc. like the group. They are all drug addicts just me. If you or someone you care for struggles with opiate addiction, I recommend interviewing with Dr. Howalt. Attempting to “get clean” on your own translates to failure – you need the support and advice of a specialist. My family life, and life in general, is orders of magnitude better because of his treatment and care. Dr. Howalt’s Staff are companionate, professional, confidential and competent. Again, the cost of the treatment program is very affordable. If you or someone you care for suffers addiction, please go see Dr. Howalt. ADDENDUM 9-2008 After being “clean” for seven months, I decided that I no longer needed to attend NA meetings and that it was time to taper off of the Suboxone. Several people have asked me what it was like to taper off of Suboxone (e.g. How hard was it? Did I go through withdrawals? Did I experience cravings, etc?). I wish I could answer those questions! Unfortunately, the truth is that I never completely got the Suboxone out of my system before I began using again – Relapse. I don’t recall exact dates and times, but I think I was off Suboxone for about a day when my mother-in-law and her purse full of pain killers came over for dinner. Immediately I grabbed a hand full of pills and began using. I was amazed at the complete loss of control I had over the situation. Also, I was amazed at how quickly I needed large amounts of opiate to get high (subsequently, Dr. Howalt explained to me the progressive nature of addiction). This went on for three months. Ironically, I ran into Dr. Howalt in a local store. Dr. Howalt invited me back into the program – an offer I did not resist. I am now back on track, clean, going to meetings and taking Suboxone. I would like to make a few points regarding some very important lessons I have learned from this relapse. First, the addict is much stronger and smarter than I could ever have imagined. Second, not going to NA meetings was the first steps towards relapsing. I don’t know why these meetings work, but they do. Lastly, Dr. Howalt and his staff was extremely supportive and non-judgmental when I returned to the program. I now know that I am not ready to stay clean on my own – I need the support, and quite frankly the medicine, that Dr. Howalt’s program provides. |
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