The number of Nebraska residents seeking treatment for opiate addiction and abuse has increased dramatically over the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that deaths due to unintentional drug poisoning have increased substantially across the U.S. over the last several years. The agency attributes much of this increase to prescription opioid painkillers such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, codeine, morphine and methadone. Opioid overdoses in the United States tripled between 1996 and 2006, according to the CDC. There is not a state in this country that hasn’t been affected by this epidemic. The problem in Nebraska and the rest of the country comes down to availability and access of Nebraska Detox Centers. Anyone can get their hands on prescription opioids with a little effort.
In 2009, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration said that among these painkillers, the primary threats in Nebraska are oxycodone, hydrocodone and cough syrups containing codeine. OxyContin is one of the most powerful prescription painkillers out there. It contains oxycodone and is vital for millions of people who need sustained pain relief. However, misuse can quickly turn problematic. Vicodin contains hydrocodone, another potent opioid that has a great potential for misuse and abuse. Codeine is a narcotic painkiller often used in cough syrups. These preparations may be especially easy to access in Nebraska, as many people have these medications at home.
The abuse of prescription drugs by young people is of particular concern in Nebraska. The availability of opiates and their ease of access have contributed to the skyrocketing number of cases of misuse, abuse and addiction. Also, there is less of a stigma attached to prescription drug misuse because people believe they’re safe because they’re prescribed by doctors and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Another problem is that these medications can be found in medicine cabinets of friends, relatives and neighbors. The DEA says primary methods of diversion in Nebraska include doctor shopping and forged prescriptions. The Nebraska Department of Education says young people are also increasingly turning to unscrupulous websites to get their hands on prescription painkillers. Many will ship prescription painkillers without requiring a prescription and some sites are known to sell expired or counterfeit medications.
Waismann Method
People who suffer opiate dependence in Nebraska have a safe place to turn. Waismann Method, located in southern California, specializes in rapid opiate detoxification and has accepted thousands of clients from Nebraska and around the world for more than a decade. For rapid opiate detox, we use non-addicting intravenous medicine to cleanse the drugs quickly from patients’ opiate receptors. This happens in less than two hours while they rest under sedation in a hospital. Withdrawal is managed because symptoms develop and pass during the procedure. Patients are monitored while they recover for a few days and can extend recovery at Waismann Institute’s Domus Retreat for aftercare. The Waismann Method procedure is known for its safe, effective, discreet and compassionate approach to opiate addiction.
