Treating opioid addiction takes a village. The opioid addict is most successful at long-term recovery when surrounded by supportive medical professionals, the latest treatments and technology, and loved ones who help them stay the course. Together they can bridge the gap between hope and healing.
Over the years, the United States has been dealing with a severe crisis. There has been extensive research done on the addictive properties of opioid medications and what it takes to get people out of the cycle of addiction. Despite all this research, the number of opioid overdose-related deaths continues to plague the country. The CDC reports that roughly 68% of the 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved opioid use.
The Most Difficult Part of Treating Opioid Addiction: Withdrawal
One of the biggest hurdles facing these opioid use disorder (OUD) patients is withdrawal. Opioid withdrawals start when a patient, who is dependent on opioids, suddenly reduces their intake of opioids. According to Medline Plus, withdrawal symptoms usually start within 12 hours of last heroin usage and within 30 hours of last methadone exposure.
Research shows that the principal site that triggers opioid withdrawal syndrome is in the locus coeruleus, at the base of the brain. Physicians who treat OUD patients generally find that symptoms of opioid withdrawal include anxiety, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. While symptoms are not life-threatening, they do contribute to relapse rates.
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction with a New Treatment
There are many patients who want to stop using opiates but are fearful of relapse as their withdrawal symptoms continue to worsen. As a result, we have developed a PNFS device that can help these patients through the painful symptoms of withdrawal. Although the PNFS device is not a cure, it serves as a bridge that connects successful detox to complete recovery. The S.T. Genesis can support patients during these high-addiction, high-relapse prone situations and help increase their chance of successful treatment.
Introducing the PNFS Device: S.T. Genesis
S.T. Genesis is a non-invasive, drug-free intervention that utilizes a carefully-calibrated Percutaneous Nerve Field Stimulator (PNFS) device used in pain management and opioid withdrawal. The device provides effective, deep neural stimulation to the brain through easily-accessible cutaneous branches on the ear.
This innovative utilization of the vagus and trigeminal nerves of the ear has been shown to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms without the risk, expense, or morbidity concerns of deep neural implants. Vagal and trigeminal stimulation has been studied for decades. The treatment has routinely shown to be effective in most pain management programs today. The electrical stimulation of these nerves has shown long-term activation in several parts of the brain.
To learn more about the S.T. Genesis and access to opioid addiction treatment during the COVID-19 crisis visit http://test.speranzatherapeutics.com/covid-19-webinar/