Understanding Heroin Effects on the Brain
Heroin use changes the brains normal function. Drug cravings are based on the changes that occur in the brain.
Most psychiatrists believe if the brain’s function is not returned to normal it is almost impossible to stop the use of opiates. Dr. Ron Lippmann DO has initiated a novel method to immediately stop all craving from the brain by using a combination of FDA approved generic medications. Dr. Ron Lippmann DO never uses any medication that can cause another withdrawal. The medications that are used by Dr. Ron Lippmann DO, can be used up to the rest of the life of the patient, and are found to be safe by the FDA.
Understanding the Brains Normal Reward Pathway and Heroin Effects
Most of our activities in life are processed through the brains reward pathway. Everyday we rely on our brains reward pathway to eat, sleep, drink, relax, laugh and all other functions. Heroin damages the brains reward pathway. There is a physical change in the brain that will not go away with stopping heroin. When a heroin addict is denied heroin the feelings of craving, feelings of impending death, feelings of pain are directly related to the damaged reward pathway in the brain. There is a combination of medications depending on the patient’s assessed needs that will return the brains activity to a normal amount of activity that the patient will immediately never have a physical craving again. The heroin addict can begin to reclaim their confidence in life knowing the physical change in their brain is returned to a normal function. All medications are generic and inexpensive and can be continued for life if needed. There are no tolerance issues with these medications.
Cognitive therapy, role playing, physical fitness, healthy diet, hikes, beach access and animal care therapy are utilized immediately and full time to ensure the heroin addict is returned to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Vocational or educational programs and continued therapy are readily made available. Job and employment help is engaged to return the patient back into mainstream society. Lifetime follow up is utilized to ensure the patient is functioning in society and maintains success. There is no other treatment program with such a comprehensive commitment and with such a humanistic approach as is found in the Treatment Centers for Heroin Addiction.
Treatment for a Healthy and Balanced Lifestyle
Heroin Causes Severe Damage to the Brain
Heroin use causes a severe brain disease. This brain illness is complex damaging multiple areas of the brain. Those once functional in society develop severe brain disease causing their capability to complete normal daily living to cease. The brain disease creates enormous cravings, anxiety and prevents organized and productive activity. The damaged brain affects the heroin user so strongly it halts their normal behavior toward their family, work and how they are in society. Treating this illness requires the immediate stopping of the progression of the disease, the halting of the anxiety, craving and finally the relearning of how to live, work and relax.Treating other addictions with those damage from heroin use like alcoholism is not recommended due to the specialization required for the brain disease found in the heroin user. The duration of the brain disease created from heroin use is considered permanent therefore lifelong treatment is needed.Each patient who has used heroin develops their own specific pathology or disease unique to them. Each patient requires very specific evaluation to ensure they receive exactly the care necessary to return back to a normal life.The treatment we offer allows for immediate acceptance of the patient into a safe place with immediate treatment and guidance. Waiting for treatment by even one day may result in the death of the patient due to the high rate of over dose from heroin.Those who use heroin suffer real physiologic changes in the brain and require at least 3 months of treatment. Longer periods of treatment result in better outcomes. The healing process in the brain requires significant periods of time and the approach to healing involves individual, family, and group counseling. The counseling utilizes role playing, confidence building, skill exposure and development. We find that humor and hands on activity advance the healing of the brain rapidly compared to lectures.The patient themselves are ultimately in control of their motivation regarding their heroin abstinence. Patients are never judged for their lack of motivation, nevertheless they are rewarded immediately upon any success when the reveal healing in the brain from this disease. The patient is routinely asked about their motivation to abstain from future heroin use. Their motivation is quantified utilizing multiple approaches to make sure there is an accurate assessment and to continue therapy at the pace the patient needs.
Does the Heroin User have to want this?
Families, employers and the criminal justice system may force those with heroin brain disease to enter into this program. The success of the patient’s healing is independent of why they entered but is more dependent on their specific plan and continuation of that plan. All patients are monitored daily for drug use/abuse. Opiate type drugs metabolize rapidly and require daily testing.Psychiatry services and psychological testing are utilized to ensure there is correct treatment for those who are diagnoses with other mental health conditions. Communicable diseases are tested and treated including Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Tuberculosis and other illnesses such as skin and deep tissue infections. Each patient has the right to make a mistake, the right to take a chance and the right to say yes, no or not answer. The role of the medical staff is to not judge but rather facilitate healing of the heroin brain disease.
Adolescent heroin users create special issues
Teenagers require even more specialized care. Heroin produces a deeper disease in the developing mind. Success rates for heroin addiction decrease with those who use as a teenager. The brain of an adolescent is wired to be less concerned with risky behavior. This may be related to the teenager beginning to leave home to live on their own. Each specific teen will be placed with a group of three caring team members to ensure their success in the recovery from the heroin exposed brain disease.
AdolesHeroin Brain Disease Pathology
Half of the dose of heroin is gone in two to six minutes after injection. A short term high causes long term to permanent damage to the brain. A person’s mood and stability are damaged. The bombing of the brain with heroin causes the brain to prevent damage by numbing the brain. The brains protective numbing process creates an abnormal response to normal daily activities of stress, pain, gastrointestinal, immunity and reproductive hormones.Some receptors normally interact with the body's own opioids to help govern neuro-endocrine function. When artificial opioids bind to the receptors, the body's natural opioids are displaced from the site and cannot carry out their usual role. Because of heroin's short half-life, addicts must re-dose themselves frequently to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms. This constant re-dosing causes great fluctuations as the Heroin addicts had little hope of escaping these agonizing rhythms.