WAISMANN METHOD® Director Urges Immediate Action to Combat Heroin Use Epidemic

Prescription Opiate-Based Painkillers Continue to be Gateway to Heroin, as Use Across the Nation Surges

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May 02, 2013, 08:00 ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Office of National Drug Control Policy recently published its 2013 National Drug Control Strategy, reporting that a surge in heroin use across the nation has particularly affected young adults living in suburban and rural areas. Based on these findings, Clare Waismann, registered addiction specialist and administrative director for the WAISMANN METHOD® (W Method) opiate treatment, is urging for increased education about the dangers of using and abusing prescription painkillers (which can lead to heroin use), alongside providing more community outreach programs, and information on how to treat addiction.

"It is disturbing to see that heroin, once known as an urban drug, is now favored by an alarming number of young adults and professionals such as lawyers and ministers," said Waismann. "Many people who were using opiate-based painkillers are finding it easier to access heroin than pills, which is unfortunately creating a resurgence of heroin use and overdose. It is our duty as a country to take immediate action to combat this problem, by not only adopting stricter laws for those found to be dealing, but also offering more community programs and information on treatments to help battle these addictions."

With the upsurge of people illegally abusing prescription painkillers, like Vicodin and OxiContin, these opiate-based medications have become much more difficult to obtain resulting in the rise of heroin use, which is cheaper and more readily available. The 2013 National Drug Control Strategy highlights heroin addiction as a growing issue, especially among 18-25-year-olds with approximately 68,000 seeking treatment in 2010 up from 43,000 in 2000. According to a 2010 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately seven million people in the United States, or 2.7 percent of the population, annually abuse prescription drugs. These stats solidify the fact that more education and treatment options are need to help combat this mounting problem.

While there are a variety of opiate treatment options available, the majority have extremely low success rates and relapse is common. W Method opiate detoxification treatment (or "rapid detox") is a safe and effective medical procedure that rids the body of opiates while the patient remains comfortable in a sedation-induced "twilight sleep." After detox symptoms have been addressed and medically managed at a full-service accredited hospital, patients are then supervised at an after-care facility, where patients are able to regain physical and mental stability in order to go back to their lives opiate free.

"Medical detoxification is an extremely serious procedure; however, when done properly using the most advanced medical and professional techniques available, we can help those battling opiate dependency achieve true sobriety," said Waismann. "At the W Method we don't take a cookie-cutter approach to treating opiate dependency, but rather treat patients as individuals. Each of our patients are treated based on their unique background and medical history, with the goal of adapting to their individual situations and bettering their chances at successfully beating addiction."

W Method medical director and pain specialist, Michael H. Lowenstein M.D., has successfully helped thousands of patients overcome their dependency to opiates. Dr. Lowenstein is a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and is certified by both organizations. For interviews, contact Natalie Terashima at 877-975-3423 or send an email to Natalie(at)rkpr(dot)net. For more information about W Method treatment please visit opiates.com.

About W Method Treatment
W Method opiate treatment is a safe and proven protocol for opiate dependency that utilizes the most advanced medical and psychological techniques available. Our detoxification and aftercare programs are customized to each patient's individual needs and dependency history, combining the most advanced medical treatment with personalized assessment and aftercare. From rapid opiate detoxification under sedation, to medically assisted detoxification and other forms of treatment at Domus Retreat, our doctors, therapists and staff work with patients to create personalized treatment and aftercare plans that ensure a healthy and effective transition to life without opiates. W Method patients achieve an extraordinarily high success rate because the treatment doesn't take a cookie cutter approach to addressing opiate dependency. We always put treatment and care over blame and punishment. For more information, please visit opiates.com.

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