Verified Document

Drug Addiction, And Analyze The Term Paper

In one patient's own words, "I had tried everything, and nothing worked for me. But PROMETA has!" (Addiction Medicine, 2006) in the words of Chicago based addiction specialist David Ostrow, there had been attempts to create hype, to an extent that was not essential, in the publicity associated with this new treatment PROMETA. In fact, he reiterated, there was very little evidence presented by the promoters of the product, to show that this indeed was a form of treatment that would work for addicts and alcoholics, in maintaining their abstinence over prolonged periods of time, and in acting against the chemicals that promote the addictions in the individual. He said, "These kinds of treatments have come and gone like garden weeds in the field of addiction." (Addiction Medicine, 2006) Other experts too voice similar opinions, that PROMETA was presented to the unwary public without first demonstrating the fact that the treatment would prove to be useful for methamphetamine and alcohol addicts. How much use would a 'drug cocktail' do for an individual who is already in the grip of an addiction to some substance or the other, asked other experts of the revolutionary PROMETA treatment targeted at handling the chemical imbalances of the brain caused and brought about by the addiction. The reason is that the treatment has not been provided approval by the Food and Drug Administration as that of an addiction therapy, and neither has the treatment been subjected to extensive scientific research and testing. All the same, those patients who have tried and tested the PROMETA treatment vouch for its efficacy in handling their addiction in such a way that it reduced their cravings at the very outset, after which it treated their addiction, after which it helped them keep off the drugs. However, in the words of Alex Stalcup, an expert on methamphetamine addiction, it is more of a marketing scheme than a real de addiction treatment for addicts and alcoholics, while Dr. Matthew Torrington, had this to say, "People are dying (from drug abuse) and this (treatment) seems to be making a dramatic difference." (Addiction Medicine, 2006) Although this treatment has not been tested properly yet, it is being aggressively promoted, felt another expert, who disagreed with and opposed the very act of introducing such treatments without conducting proper clinical trials first. (Addiction Medicine, 2006)

This is how PROMETA works. The Pierce County Alliance announced that forty long-term methamphetamine and cocaine users would be enrolled in a pilot program to treat substance dependence, entitled PROMETA. The treatment as such would consist of two cycles. The first cycle would include a daily infusion of specially formulated PROMETA medication over a period of three days. This might be immediately being followed afterwards with the second treatment level of daily regular infusions of some similar types of medications over two consecutive days. The second type of treatment cycle might start about 21 days soon after the initial day of the first level of infusion. When the addicts were treated with the two levels of treatment over the specific duration of time, tests showed that about 92.5% of the patients who were part of the program were drug free, and about 98% of the random weekly urine evaluations of the treated patients revealed the fact that they remained free of drug abuse. (Shelton, 2007)

This was a feat hitherto not achieved by any other drug de addiction program, stated experts and personnel belonging to the PROMETA treatment program. Those patients who had managed to successfully complete both their infusion treatment program as well as the following treatment regimens were declared by their case manager as being 'much improved', and this meant that these patients would no longer have to suffer the consequences of being addicted to drugs, alcohol or to methamphetamines. In the same manner, those patients who took part in the PROMETA program, and who had not had the bitter experience...

(Shelton, 2007)
Although evidence has been able to prove otherwise, there have been large scale protests stating that PROMETA was not tested properly before it was tried out on unsuspecting patients. John Ladenburg, the County Executive for PROMETA defended his company against false allegations and accusations, and in his opinion, funding for the treatment program had been unnecessarily suspended, despite all the evidence that the company was willing to display regarding its efficacy and effectiveness in dealing with and curing drug addicts of their addiction and other cravings. (Wickert, 2007)

Termed a 'costly drug cocktail', PROMETA has been maligned by the media, and by rival companies, and that the approval granted to the cocktail of drugs by the Food and Drugs Administration was for the treatment of other disorders, but not for drug addiction. Furthermore, drug rehabilitation comes at a great cost, and PROMETA is no exception, the only difference lying in the fact that while insurance handles certain drug addiction treatment costs, the costs of PROMETA would not come under this branch. However, those patients who have signed up for PROMETA have reported that their cravings were considerably reduced after the treatment, and that they felt infinitely more clearly headed than before. UCLA had undertaken a research to get a true and clear picture of the benefits of PROMETA, and the results are expected some time the next year, say experts. (Shelton, 2007) if one had a relative or a close friend who was suffering from an unbreakable heroin habit or from alcoholism, perhaps one would not hesitate to try out this novel contemporary and dynamic method of treatment, which uses a simple method to break the cravings and thereby the addiction that the addict is slave to. Most users of the treatment report that they felt a reduction in craving almost overnight, and it is said that PROMETA sells hope to the desperate.

Conclusion:

If one had a son who was about to kill himself because of his drug addiction, wouldn't one resort to desperate measures to save him? If so, then PROMETA would probably be the best bet; it would cure the addict safely, and within a very short period of time, reduce his cravings, and make sure that he remains free of his cravings for a long time to come, and also that he does not relapse. What more could one ask for?

References

Addiction Medicine. (2006, April) "Dr. Raymond Johnson presents preliminary outcomes data on PROMETA addiction treatment" Drug Week, 39. Retrieved January 14, 2008, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1022559421).

Gracer, Richard I; Gracer, Richard I. (2007) "A new prescription for addiction, Subutex,

PROMETA: Subutex, Prometa, Vivitrol, and Campral..." Gracer Medical Group.

Hythiam, Inc. (2007, August) "Hythiam Announces Second Quarter Results" Drug Week, 315.

Retrieved January 14, 2008, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1320381231).

Kapralos, Krista J. (2006, December 11). "Tulalips to offer experimental meth treatment" the Herald, p. 1. Retrieved January 14, 2008, from ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 1177697041).

N.A. (2007, Dec) "Prescription for Addiction"

CBS News,

N.A. (2008) "Different Images of Google" Retrieved 22 January, 2008 from www.images.google.com

N.A. (2007) "PROMETA: The Prometa Treatment Program" Retrieved 22 January, 2008 at http://www.prometainfo.com/

Shelton, Deborah. L. (2007, Dec) "Drug Protocol to treat addiction comes under increased scrutiny" Tribune…

Sources used in this document:
References

Addiction Medicine. (2006, April) "Dr. Raymond Johnson presents preliminary outcomes data on PROMETA addiction treatment" Drug Week, 39. Retrieved January 14, 2008, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1022559421).

Gracer, Richard I; Gracer, Richard I. (2007) "A new prescription for addiction, Subutex,

PROMETA: Subutex, Prometa, Vivitrol, and Campral..." Gracer Medical Group.

Hythiam, Inc. (2007, August) "Hythiam Announces Second Quarter Results" Drug Week, 315.
N.A. (2007) "PROMETA: The Prometa Treatment Program" Retrieved 22 January, 2008 at http://www.prometainfo.com/
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Drug Addiction and Crime Over
Words: 2728 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

(Cussen, 2006, pp. 39 -- 48) The Role of the Church, Family, Community and Nonprofits Like what was stated previously, our focus will be on those organizations that are through: the church, family, community and various nonprofits. The basic idea here is to have each one of these groups effectively reach out to various addicts and offer them a way of effectively dealing with their addiction. This is significant because, this

Drug Addiction: Social Problem
Words: 2347 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Drug Addiction: A Social Problem DRUG ADDICTION The drug addiction has radically increased throughout the world over the past few years. This research study aims at analyzing the problem of drug addiction, its individual and social implications and the experts' opinion about this life-threatening practice. The paper has also discussed the current prevention measures launched at the private and public forefront along with examining their effectiveness in the practical arena. The alternatives

Community Health Nursing Drug Addiction
Words: 580 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

, 2013). The change in environment and the people that the individual interacts with, hence learns from can fundamentally change the perception on drugs that the patient has. The drug abuse trend is due to the influence surrounding the individual, hence if the person is surrounded by people who don't use drugs and is aided in withdrawing from them (like in a rehabilitation home) then the individual is bound to imbibe

Risk Factors to the Onset of Drug Addictions
Words: 2206 Length: 7 Document Type: Case Study

Risk Factors to the Onset of Drug Addiction Drug addiction is one of the subjects whose importance can never be underestimated. Even though this issue is discussed at every forum, the problem persists in the society and needs to be sorted out. It should be noted here that there are always some factors that are common among the people who resort to drug addiction. Some of these factors will be sought

Treating Drug Addiction With Hypnosis
Words: 750 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Hypnosis & Drugs Hypnosis may not always be taken very seriously, but studies have shown that it can be highly effective in some cases (Astin, et al., 2003). That is often because some individuals are more susceptible to the power of suggestion than others (Elkins & Rajab, 2004). These people are more easily hypnotized, while others claim they cannot be hypnotized at all. For those who are able to be hypnotized,

Souls Is a Book About Drug Addiction
Words: 2393 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Souls is a book about drug addiction and its relation to crime. It is a memoir by Michael MacDonald and it shows how both crime and drugs have brought death to his family, as they grew up in Southie, "in the all-Irish housing projects where everyone claimed to be Irish" (2). It was, according to MacDonald, the best neighborhood in the world. That, of course, was a kind of

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now