A Two-Minute Focus on the Opiate Epidemic

The opiate epidemic is sweeping the nation.  Opiate addiction is claiming the lives of friends, neighbors, and loved ones across the US, as it has become one of the leading causes of death for young people, at nearly 17,000 deaths annually.

For years, the recovery rate for opiate addiction was a mere 4 - 5%--but the treatment plans for opiate addiction have changed dramatically with the prevalence of medication assisted treatment.  Medication assisted treatment methods leveraging medications like buprenorphine, have dramatically improved recovery rates from 4 - 5% to 68 - 72%. By easing the symptoms of withdrawal, patients become more open to therapy and their emotions, improving the patient’s possibility of sustaining long-term recovery.

Listen in as Rocky Hill, Director of Hill Alcohol and Drug Treatment, addresses the dramatic increase in opiate addiction among young people, the toll it is taking on our society, the top three things addicts need to get clean and sober, and the steps to help opiate addicts regain their passion for life through recovery.

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