Ten years. Ten years is the time I have spent on this journey with opioid use disorder, or heroin addiction. I have read a lot of books on substance use disorder or, addiction. I have attended numerous parent group meetings and educational seminars; and, I have talked with many treatment professionals. Without sounding too boastful or proud, I have learned a great deal and speak from a place of confidence.
I just finished a book, “Overcoming Opioid Addiction,” by Adam Bisaga, MD, an addiction psychiatrist, clinician, researcher, and professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. He conducts research on new treatments for opioid addiction and oversees a national program that mentors physicians treating opioid addictions.
I have committed this blog to promote this book for the following reasons:
- It provides a perspective on treating opioid addiction which is in complete alignment with all I have learned and experienced. Between corrupt and self-serving treatment facilities and addiction resource singularly committed to one form of treatment methodology, our addiction community has been incredibly underserved. The information in this book brings reliable, accurate researched based information forward in an understandable manner.
“I would argue it is now unethical for professionals to refer Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients to more than half of the treatment facilities in this country…Most enter traditional treatment clinics unequipped or unwilling to deliver treatment with medication because it does not fit their definition of sobriety.” – Dr. Bisaga (p. 6)
- It provides information on treatment I wish I had known and utilized ten years ago. It took me nearly eight years before I began to realize there may a better way to treat my son’s heroin addiction. As I studied what were deemed “alternative” approaches, I came to discover the alternative methods were the ones which needed to be mainstreamed, not the other way around. If I had only known.
“Quality addiction care based on scientific advances, remain out of reach for the great majority of afflicted individuals. Most of those lucky enough to find themselves in an addiction program receive an outdated and ineffective treatment of brief detoxification followed by non-medical abstinence only approach.” – Dr. Bisaga (p. 32)
- It is a must-read for every single parent of a child with opioid use disorder. As parents, we have this incredible skill of attempting to figure out what is best for our child based on what we believe. We make decisions through our own filters, often without the benefit of a blank slate or open mind. Our decisions are clouded by our own experiences, perceptions, or preconceived notions. Every parent, as part of the research process for finding a treatment program for their child is encouraged to read this book before deciding and with an open, receptive mind.
“For the best chance at recovery, people with addiction need to address all {their} issues or they become reasons to use again. For most, taking away the drug is not enough. Recovery is not just about abstinence but wellness and quality of life and being free from as many problems as possible. True recovery is building strength.” – Dr. Bisaga (p. 116)
Ten years! It has a been a long hard road. The gift in my journey comes from what I have learned and how my life has been transformed in the process. I would gladly trade this gift in for having the information contained in this book earlier. In my willful stubbornness, I may not have read it; but, now that I know what I know, I would not make the mistake of not reading this book, today!!
To purchase your copy of “Overcoming Opioid Addiction” on Amazon click here.
NOTE: I intentionally left out specific content information from this book because I know the parental mind all too well. After all, I am one. If I shared too much, your preconceptions would not allow you to read or accept it. If you read my blogs, I hope you trust me by now. Trust me. Read this book!
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