By Dr. Mercola
If you or someone you know is hooked on prescription drugs such as
Oxycontin and Vicodin, or street drugs like heroin, you'll connect with
"Chasing the Dragon," a raw 2016 documentary about the horrors of drug
addiction.
Produced by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the film
features ordinary Americans sharing personal stories of danger and
destruction that characterized their lives prior to recovery from
hard-core drug addiction.
Because the documentary is filled with harsh language and disturbing images, parental discretion is advised.
In 2015, 52,404 Americans died from drug overdoses; 33,091 of them
involved an opioid and nearly one third of them, 15,281, were by
prescription.1,2,3 Meanwhile, kidney disease, listed as the 9th leading cause of death on the CDC's top 10 list, killed 48,146.4
The CDC does not include drug overdoses on this list, but if you did,
drug overdoses (63 percent of which are opioids), would replace kidney disease as the 9th leading cause of death as of 2015.
Many of those featured in "Chasing the Dragon" are regular people
from good homes and loving families. The one characteristic they had in
common while using was a feeling of powerlessness to escape the
spiraling cycle of drug use and abuse that dominated every moment of
their lives.
One recovering addict, a woman named Melissa, had this to say about
her drug use: "It became my full-time job. The needle was my boss — a
very demanding boss."
To prevent you or someone you love from becoming addicted to
prescription painkillers, I'd like to take a closer look at opioid abuse
and offer several healthy alternatives to help you manage pain.
How Bad Is Prescription Drug Abuse in the US?
A 2015 study5 suggested 1 in 4 Americans who use opioid painkillers become addicted to them. Despite the drugs' high risk of addiction, a 2016 NPR health poll6 indicated less than one-third of people said they questioned or refused their doctor's prescription for opioids.
Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and health commissioner for the
city of Baltimore, recommends you discuss with your doctor any concerns
you may have about receiving a prescription for narcotics.
Due to their highly addictive potential, it's important, she says, to ensure such drugs are your best and only option:7
"Ask why. Often other alternatives, like not [taking] anything at
all, taking an ibuprofen or Tylenol, physical therapy or something else
can be effective. Asking 'why' is something every patient and provider
should do."
Wen's concerns are well placed. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),8 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on opioids in 2014.
On average, more than 1,000 of them land in emergency rooms every day
as the result of abuse or misuse of prescription painkillers.
"There's very little difference between oxycodone, morphine and
heroin," says Dr. Deeni Bassam, board-certified anesthesiologist, pain
specialist and medical director of the Virginia-based Spine Care Center.
"It's just that one comes in a prescription bottle and another one
comes in a plastic bag."9
Bassam, whose views on drug addiction are presented throughout
"Chasing the Dragon," believes most drug dependency starts innocuously:10
"A friend offers you something at a party or at home. Or you're
having a bad day, and you need something to pick you up, so somebody
hands you a pill and says, 'Here, this will help you feel better.'
That's how this problem always starts."
Deborah Taylor, senior vice president and executive director of
Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic, a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation
organization operating in 10 U.S. states, notes:11
"The progression of addiction and the behavior that comes with it
is pretty standard regardless of where you're born, how much money you
have, how old you are and your race or nationality.
You can be the smartest person in the world — and the minute that
chemical hits your bloodstream, you lose control of what it does in
your body. You can't control it. Nobody can control it. I don't care who
you are. It's not controllable."
From Prescription Opioids to Street Drugs
The transition from prescription opioids to street drugs like heroin
is a relatively easy one. When a prescription runs out, the cost to
renew it becomes unmanageable or a physician refuses to renew a
prescription, many addicts look for other options.
Heroin, which is often cheaper and easier to obtain than opioids, is a
popular alternative. Chemically, the drugs are very similar and provide
a similar kind of high. Without additives, heroin is as dangerous as Oxycontin and equally addictive. However, when dealers cut heroin with other drugs, the results can be deadly.
According to the Chicago Tribune,12
in just six days during August 2016, a staggering 174 heroin overdoses
took place in Cincinnati, Ohio, a city that records, on average, 20 to
25 overdoses a week.
The Tribune13
claims the unprecedented number of overdoses was precipitated by heroin
cut with carfentanil, a drug originally developed as a tranquilizer for
large animals such as elephants. Cut into heroin, it was meant to
deliver a stronger and more extended high, which would presumably keep
users coming back to buy more.
Instead, it resulted in a string of overdoses and deaths that left
law enforcement begging local citizens to not buy heroin until the
ultra-potent batch was off the streets. Their advice made sense
considering carfentanil is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than
morphine.
About the overdoses, Newtown police chief Tom Synan, who is also
leader of the law enforcement task force for the Hamilton County Heroin
Coalition, said:14
"[Dealers] are intentionally putting in drugs they know can kill
someone. The benefit for them is if the user survives it is such a
powerful high for them, they tend to come back …
If one or two people die, they could care less. They know the
supply is so big right now that if you lose some customers, in their
eyes there's always more in line."
Treating Your Pain Without Drugs
Prior to leaving office in January 2017, U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) commissioner Dr. Robert Califf addressed the
devastating effects of opioid misuse, suggesting it's time to find
better ways to treat pain:15
"The public-health crisis of opioid misuse, addiction and overdose
is one of the most challenging issues [the FDA] has faced during my time
as commissioner. Solving this issue is critical to our future.
It's time to put more resources into the development of
non-opioid, non-addictive medications to help people who are in serious,
debilitating pain. We need more research to define the most effective
non-medication approaches to pain, and how to deliver them …"
Califf is right; we do need better ways to manage pain. Fortunately,
many natural alternatives already exist. While not everyone who takes a
prescription opioid will wind up an addict, the risk is real. For that
reason, I strongly recommend exhausting the many natural alternatives
before you resort to an opioid pain reliever. The health risks
associated with those drugs are great, and addiction and overdose happen
far more often than you may realize.
It's particularly important for you to avoid opioids when trying to address long-term chronic pain,
as your body will create a tolerance to the drug. Over time, you'll
require greater doses at more frequent intervals to achieve the same
pain relief. This is a recipe for disaster and could have lethal
consequences. Please don't risk it!
Due to the many concerns around addiction and tolerance, opioids
clearly have not lived up to the promises manufacturers have made. With
so much focus on pharmaceutical remedies, you may not be aware of the
many healthy alternatives to pain relief. Following is information about
non-drug remedies, dietary changes and bodywork interventions that can
help you manage your pain.
Non-Drug Remedies for Pain Relief
If you have chronic pain of any kind, please understand there are
many natural, safe and effective alternatives to prescription and
over-the-counter painkillers, including:
Kratom
Kratom (Mitragyna speciose) is another plant remedy that has become a popular opioid substitute.16
In August, the DEA issued a notice saying it was planning to ban
kratom, listing it as Schedule 1 controlled substance. However,
following massive outrage from kratom users who say opioids are their
only alternative, the agency reversed its decision.17
Kratom is likely safer than an opioid for someone in serious and
chronic pain. However, it's important to recognize that it is a
psychoactive substance and should not be used carelessly. There's very
little research showing how to use it safely and effectively, and it may
have a very different effect from one person to the next.
Also, while it may be useful for weaning people off opioids, kratom
is in itself addictive. So, while it appears to be a far safer
alternative to opioids, it's still a powerful and potentially addictive
substance. So please, do your own research before trying it.
Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, originally developed in the early
1960s for the treatment of opioid addiction. When taken at very low
doses (LDN, available only by prescription), it triggers endorphin
production, which can boost your immune function and ease pain.
Curcumin: A primary therapeutic compound identified in the spice turmeric, curcumin
has been shown in more than 50 clinical studies to have potent
anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin is hard to absorb, so best results
are achieved with preparations designed to improve absorption. It is
very safe and you can take two to three every hour if you need to.
Astaxanthin: One of the most effective oil-soluble antioxidants known, astaxanthin
has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. Higher doses are
typically required for pain relief, and you may need 8 milligrams or
more per day to achieve results.
Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or
"Indian frankincense," this herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory
properties, which have been prized for thousands of years. This is one
of my personal favorites, as it worked well for many of my former rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Bromelain: This protein-digesting enzyme,
found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in
supplement form, but eating fresh pineapple may also be helpful. Keep in
mind most of the bromelain is found within the core of the pineapple,
so consider eating some of the pulpy core when you consume the fruit.
Cayenne cream: Also called capsaicin cream,
this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by
depleting your body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of
nerve cells that transmit pain signals to your brain.
Cetyl myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in
dairy butter and fish, acts as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory.
I have used a topical preparation of CMO to relieve ganglion cysts and a
mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Evening primrose, black currant and borage oils: These oils contain the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, which is useful for treating arthritic pain.
Ginger: This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea, or incorporated into fresh vegetable juice.
Dietary Changes to Fight Inflammation and Manage Your Pain
Unfortunately, physicians often fall short when attempting to
effectively treat chronic pain, resorting to the only treatment they
know: prescription drugs. While these drugs may bring some temporary
relief, they will do nothing to resolve the underlying causes of your
pain. If you suffer from chronic pain, making the following changes to
your diet may bring you some relief.
Consume more animal-based omega-3 fats. Similar to the effects of anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs, omega-3 fats from fish and fish oils work to directly or indirectly modulate a number of cellular activities associated with inflammation.
While drugs have a powerful ability to inhibit your body's pain
signals, omega-3s cause a gentle shift in cell signaling to bring about a
lessened reactivity to pain.
Eating healthy seafood like anchovies or sardines, which are low in
environmental toxins, or taking a high-quality supplement such as krill
oil are your best options for obtaining omega-3s. DHA and EPA, the
omega-3 oils contained in krill oil, have been found in many animal and
clinical studies to have anti-inflammatory properties, which are
beneficial for pain relief.
Radically reduce your intake of processed foods.
Processed foods not only contain chemical additives and excessive
amounts of sugar, but also are loaded with damaging omega-6 fats. By
eating these foods, especially fried foods, you upset your body's ratio
of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty-acids, which triggers inflammation.
Inflammation is a key factor in most pain.
Eliminate or radically reduce your consumption of grains and sugars.
Avoiding grains and sugars, especially fructose, will lower your
insulin and leptin levels. Elevated insulin and leptin levels are one of
the most profound stimulators of inflammatory prostaglandin production,
which contributes to pain.
While healthy individuals are advised to keep their daily fructose
consumption below 25 grams from all sources, you'll want to limit your
intake to 15 grams per day until your pain is reduced. Eating sugar
increases your uric acid levels, which leads to chronic, low-level
inflammation.
Optimize your production of vitamin D. As much as possible, regulate your vitamin D
levels by regularly exposing large amounts of your skin to sunshine. If
you cannot get sufficient sun exposure, taking an oral vitamin D3
supplement, along with vitamin K2 and magnesium, is highly advisable.
Research by GrassrootsHealth suggests adults need about 8,000 IUs per
day to achieve a serum level of 40 ng/ml, but you may need even more.
It's best to get your blood level tested to be sure you're safely within
the therapeutic range.
Bodywork Methods That Reduce Pain
Due to the inherent risks of addiction and the other unpleasant side
effects of prescription painkillers, I recommend you pursue one or more
of the following bodywork methods before taking a narcotic for pain.
Each one has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for lasting
pain relief and management.
• Acupuncture: According to The New York Times,18 an estimated 3 million American adults receive acupuncture annually, most often for the treatment of chronic pain. A study19
published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded acupuncture
has a definite effect in reducing four types of chronic pain, including
back and neck pain, chronic headache, osteoarthritis and shoulder pain —
more so than standard pain treatment. The researchers stated:
"[W]e found acupuncture to be superior to both
no-acupuncture control and sham acupuncture for the treatment of chronic
pain … Our results from individual patient data meta-analyses of nearly
18,000 patients in high-quality randomized controlled trials provide
the most robust evidence to date that acupuncture is a reasonable
referral option for patients with chronic pain."
• Chiropractic adjustments: While previously used most often to treat back pain,
chiropractic treatment addresses many other problems — including
asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines,
musculoskeletal pain, neck pain and whiplash.
According to a study20
published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, patients with neck pain
who used a chiropractor and/or exercise were more than twice as likely
to be pain-free in 12 weeks compared to those who took medication. • Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT):EFT
continues to be one of the easiest and most effective ways to deal with
acute and chronic pain. The technique is simple and can be applied in
mere minutes, helping you to overcome all kinds of bodily aches and
pains. A study21
published in Energy Psychology examined the levels of pain in a group
of 50 people attending a three-day EFT workshop, and found their pain
dropped by 43 percent during the workshop.
Six weeks later, their pain levels were reported to be 42 percent
lower than before the workshop. As a result of applying EFT,
participants felt they had an improved sense of control and ability to
cope with their chronic pain. In the video featured below, EFT expert
Julie Schiffman, teaches you how to use EFT to address chronic pain. • Massage: Massage
releases endorphins, which help induce relaxation, relieve pain and
reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. A
systematic review and meta-analysis22
published in the journal Pain Medicine, included 60 high-quality and
seven low-quality studies that looked into the use of massage for
various types of pain, including bone and muscle, fibromyalgia, headache
and spinal-cord pain.
The study revealed massage therapy relieves pain better than getting
no treatment at all. When compared to other pain treatments like
acupuncture and physical therapy, massage therapy still proved
beneficial and had few side effects. In addition to relieving pain,
massage therapy also improved anxiety and health-related quality of
life.
Final Thoughts About 'Chasing the Dragon'
With respect to "Chasing the Dragon," U.S. FBI director James Comey said:23
"This film may be difficult to watch, but we hope it educates our
students and young adults about the tragic consequences that come with
abusing these drugs, and it will cause people to think twice before
becoming its next victim."
Every generation has its drug of choice, and Bassam suggests this
generation's drug of choice is prescription opiates, which is far more
devastating and addictive than anything law enforcement and the medical
community have seen in the past. The current level of drug addiction in
the U.S. is real and dangerous, says Bassam:24
"How do you know you're an addict? It's when you're doing something
you know is not good for you, that's harming you, but you can't help
yourself. When your relationships are starting to fall apart around you,
and you don't care. When the only thing on your mind is how to get the
substance and how to get to the next high — you're an addict. You can't
maintain an opiate addiction and a normal life for very long."
If someone you know is at risk for or is presently struggling with drug
addiction, this raw and realistic documentary is worth your time.
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