Need for better understanding potential dangers of prescription painkillers

In response to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine called "Hospitalizations for Poisoning by Prescription Opioids, Sedatives, and Tranquilizers," the Waismann Method of Opiate Detoxification is urging Americans to take measures to better understand and recognize the potential dangers and addictive nature of prescription painkillers.  The seven-year study found accidental poisoning as the second leading cause of unintentional death in the U.S., surpassing motor vehicle crashes in 2005 as the leading cause among individuals ages 35 to 54 years old.  This report also revealed a 65 percent increase in U.S. hospital admissions due to overdose by prescription painkillers over a 10 year period (1996-2006).

The statistics published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine correlate highly with results from a recent survey by the Waismann Method on prescription painkillers, which revealed that 78 percent of respondents are taking more than their prescribed amount of medication and are obtaining painkillers from friends or on the street.  This same survey found that 71 percent of people taking prescription painkillers said they experience the same amount of–or in some cases more–pain than before they began taking prescription painkillers, indicating that these opiates are not effective for long term pain management.

"The availability of prescription painkillers, combined with the perception that they are safe and potentially less habit-forming because prescribed by a medical professional, contributes largely to these findings," said Dr. Michael Lowenstein, medical director of The Waismann Method.  "These drugs are extremely powerful and effective when used properly to treat chronic pain, but need to be very carefully monitored."

Prescription painkillers are becoming more widely accepted by the public and increasingly easy to obtain. In fact, the Group Health Research Institute suggests that three to four percent of all American adults are currently taking opiates and/or have them in their medicine cabinet.  

"Education and awareness are the first defenses against unintentional injury and the increase in hospitalizations from improper use of prescription painkillers," continued Lowenstein.  "We highly encourage chronic pain patients, or anyone taking prescription pain medications, to recognize how potent these opiates are and acknowledge the potential outcomes of misuse or long term intake."

The Waismann Method, a pioneering medical opiate detoxification procedure, provides an alternative option for treatment to prescription painkiller dependency.  Performed in a hospital intensive care unit, the Waismann Method carefully administers medications to reverse the physiological dependence on opiates while the symptoms of withdrawal are addressed.  During the procedure, the patient experiences minimal conscious withdrawal.  Following treatment, patients are opiate-free and stay at the Domus Retreat where they are supervised by a team of professionals as part of the recovery and transition process.  

The Waismann Method continues to work toward its mission to educate people on the dangerous, and potentially fatal, effects of painkillers, and build increased awareness about alternative treatments available for those who may be facing issues with dependency.