The Opioid Epidemic – Finding Alternatives
With increasing awareness of this problem, we’re seeing more alternatives for treatment for addiction come into the mainstream – or at least mainstream use at specialized rehab treatment centers. One of these options is called a bridge device, which works through interfering with pain signalling in the body, aiming to decrease the level of pain a person feels.
Why is withdrawal so difficult?
Due to the intensity of pain relief that opioids provide, withdrawal from them creates an intense acute pain because what was once being “covered up” with the drug is now exposed and felt by the individual.
Even worse, because of increased tolerance to the opioid, people who are addicted often have to taper from high doses, experiencing intense pain even while taking a higher than normal dose of the drug.
This is why treatment at a facility is so important – dealing with withdrawal independently is a recipe for disaster and relapse for so many people. Getting help at a facility is a great step for improving the possibility of positive outcome while also decreasing the risk of negative consequences of sudden discontinuation of opioid use without professional support.
A Bridge Device Can Help
The bridge device attaches to the skin of the outer ear, with the main part of the device tucked behind the back of the ear. It’s discrete and comfortable to wear.
The device sends electrical signals through the skin, activating a response in several cranial nerves and down the spinal cord, which in turn block pain signaling in these areas. If you’re familiar with a TENS unit, which is also used for pain, it works under the same premise about how electrical signals can interrupt pain signaling.
The device is a non-invasive, non-chemical option for reducing pain while addicts are beginning their detox journey.
Many experts see that the resistance to opioid rehab treatment is because of the actual acute pain caused by withdrawal as well as the fear of the pain caused. The bridge device helps calm these fears and the pain by bridging the gap between addiction and a full medication-assisted and counseling supported rehab treatment plan. Typically, a patient will wear the bridge device for 5 days prior to starting the rest of their program to help get over the worst part of withdrawal.
Marketing your Bridge Device
Having a bridge device as an option at your rehab treatment center is a great way to attract new leads, as it’s another point of support for those who are weary to begin treatment. It’s important to remember that there are other symptoms of withdrawal that are not treated with the bridge device, as this device aims to treat pain only.
Other symptoms of withdrawal include depression, nausea, restlessness, sweating, increased heart rate, insomnia, and tremor. This is why it’s crucial for patients to receive care at a drug rehab treatment center that emphasizes a complete care plan that addresses all aspects of addiction recovery.
We specialize in digital marketing for the best drug rehab treatment centers in America so that you can do the work that is so desperately needed right now in our country – helping those who have become addicted to find a way through recovery.