August, 2 2011

Thanks to our patients for allowing Tyler Frew to participate in their care. Tyler is now into his second year at Drexel University School of Medicine.

At some point in September David Klarberg will be working in the office part-time. David was a Nurse Practitioner student in the office early last year. He's finishing up his program and will be a licensed Nurse Practitioner very soon. David will be seeing patients on Tuesdays and Thursday's.

Addiction

The American Society of Addiction Medicine has this definition for Addiction:

Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in the individual pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. The addiction is characterized by impairment in behavioral control, craving, inability to consistently abstain, and diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. Like other chronic diseases, addiction can involve cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

Addiction affects family members, especially children in harmful and lasting ways. There are support services for family members who should be included in any treatment program for the addicted patient.

Addiction leads to seeking. The tip off that someone is drug seeking is the relentless pursuit of a particular drug. "Nothing works for my _______ but percocet". "My old doctor used to give me: xanax, darvocet, percocet, etc., etc.". " I lost my prescription of ________ while I was moving last week." Of course there are many many more lines that have been used. The addicted drug seeker believes that he or she has a new line that could lead to success. I'm always on the look out for that new approach to obtain drugs.

Of course there are patients with chronic pain issues. These patients should be seen by a chronic pain specialist not by a primary care physician (my own personal opinion). So don't come into the office with an angenda of trying to brow beat me or make me feel bad because I am not enabling your addiction. If you truly want help and are interested there are resources available that I can and will gladly make available to you.

Addiction is a chronic disease process that should be treated as such. Successful treatment requires a patient to recognize addiction as a disease and the willingness to seek help. It's often as easy as just asking for help to get things started on the long road of recovery.

Alcoholics Anonmymous

Narcotics Anonmymous

Suboxone