A New Approach to Opioid Detox Is Gaining Attention

A Seattle detox program is aiming to take the fear out of withdrawal. It’s hoped that the approach will be a game changer for those with opioid addiction.

The method uses slow release injectable buprenorphine at a low dose to ease withdrawal symptoms. Introducing the medication slowly during the first days of detox helps the body adjust to the medication. 

The process reduces cravings within days and may prevent overdose deaths by partially blocking the brain’s opioid receptors. Since it starts with such a low dose it doesn’t produce the severe side effects that can make buprenorphine intolerable for some clients. 

Previous induction methods involved high and rapid doses of buprenorphine. And the result, for some, is a kind of “supercharged withdrawal” that can drive people out of treatment and back into addiction. 

Experts believe making detox more comfortable will lead more people to seek treatment for opioid addiction. The often severe discomfort of opioid withdrawal is a major deterrent to entering recovery. 

The early results are promising. Over 70% of those who started in this program moved on to the second month of treatment. 

And the program is showing a particularly significant impact on Seattle’s homeless population. This is a community that has been particularly affected by the nation’s opioid crisis. The number of homeless persons seeking treatment at the center has tripled since the new detox program was introduced. 

More people are catching on and learning how this new treatment eases the fear of withdrawal and brings the hope of recovery truly within reach. Dozens of new patients are requesting this service every month. Specialists believe this may be a significant leap forward for those struggling with opioid addiction. 

The only downside so far is the fear that high medicine costs could put this treatment out of the reach of most people. And this is why the program continues to research and report on the results. 

With more data to support the approach will come wider acceptance of the protocol. And that means accessible, effective, and affordable treatment for those who need it most.