Opiate abuse and diversion is as much of a problem in this Midwest state as it is in most others. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration says opiates and benzodiazepines are commonly abused and diverted in Indiana. In particular, prescription painkillers containing hydrocodone are the biggest threat to this state, the agency said in 2009. The explosion of OxyContin abuse in the last several years has also made an impact on Indiana. Products containing hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco and Lortab) and oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet) have been linked to cases of abuse, addiction, criminal diversion and overdose across the country. These drugs are members of the opiate class, which also includes heroin. These drugs can be highly addicting when abused or used over long periods of time. In an effort to cut down on abuse and diversion, Indiana officials agreed to take part in a prescription drug-monitoring program. This is a database that keeps track of patients’ prescription histories to cut down on instances of doctor shopping and prescription fraud.
Indiana’s Center for Health Policy issued a report in 2008 that shows non-medical use of psychotherapeutics, including opiates, is a problem, especially among young people. Despite the increased monitoring efforts in Indiana, the center said non-medical use of prescription drugs has continued to rise. The reason for this is that people feel safe taking these drugs because they are legal and prescribed by a medical professional, the center reports. Prescription pills, including opiates, don’t have the same stigma as illegal drugs. Once people begin taking them, whether for legitimate reasons or recreationally, a tolerance can develop and people may become hooked. Oftentimes, these people escalate use and turn to various methods of diversion to secure the drugs. In Indiana, these methods include doctor shopping, or going from doctor to doctor to secure more than one supply. People in Indiana are also turning to the Internet, where some companies will sell prescription opiates such as Vicodin, morphine and methadone – without requiring a prescription. Other methods of diversion include pharmacy and personal theft and prescription forging.
Waismann Method
People who take prescription painkillers can become dependent through no fault of their own. The Waismann Method in southern California has been accepting Indiana residents and people from around the world for more than a decade, treating opiate dependency in a safe, quick manner. We offer compassionate care for individuals who are battling to recover from the ravages of opiate dependence. Our medical procedure is performed in a hospital, using intravenous medicine to cleanse the opiates from patients’ opiate receptors. They are sedated during this time and withdrawal symptoms develop and pass during the procedure, which is less than two hours. We also offer extended care through our Domus Retreat facility for those people who wish to further their recovery work.
