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Local News

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Help's available for opiate addicts
Diamond Mine Direct
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Northwestern Ohio has a "doctor's office" for heroin and prescription drug addicts. It is located on Hancock County 236 in Findlay and has been open since May 2008.

At Anhedonia, instead of getting prescriptions for antibiotics, patients get doctors' orders for Suboxone, according to Angy Shaferly, owner of the business, who also works as a registered nurse there.

Suboxone, released in 2002, is a transitional drug used initially to give addicts a substitute for the opiates they crave, and eventually to wean them away from the drugs.

The self-described doctor's office sees patients from Hancock, Wood, Seneca, Wyandot, Allen, Hardin and Crawford counties, Shaferly said.

Suboxone costs about $300 a month and Anhedonia accepts insurance.

With the first dose, the addict's craving is quenched almost immediately and withdrawal symptoms subside, Shaferly said.

"Within a day or two, they don't really have any cravings," she said.

Dr. Harold Barlekamp at Anhedonia sees about 25 to 30 patients a week, typically ranging in age from 18 to 60.

Between 60 and 70 percent of Anhedonia's patients are seeking treatment for pain medication addiction, while between 30 and 40 percent are there for heroin addiction, Shaferly said.

As a supplement to the medication patients are screened for drugs, and agree to participate in support groups. They are also urged to become involved in a 12-step program.

Since Suboxone is relatively new, its long-term success is unknown, Barlekamp said.

"The biggest drawback is that it almost works too well. It really gets people feeling confident and almost cocky," he said.

In 2009, Anhedonia treated about 120 patients. Roughly a dozen people returned to the office after relapsing, or being on the verge of it.

"You can put (addiction) in remission," Shaferly said, "but there is no guarantee it's not going to come back and bite you."

Once patients are off Suboxone, they will still feel mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, Shaferly said.

"It's nothing compared to a full-blown opiate withdrawal," she said.

Anhedonia is not the only place to go for help for someone addicted to opiates.

Dr. Sam Schwendiman, a psychiatrist who just moved to Findlay, specializes in addiction treatment. He is authorized to prescribe Suboxone and offers individual therapy for opiate addicts. He accepts insurance for Suboxone, among other services.

His office is a branch of Memorial Hospital, based in Fremont.

Also, Century Health, a treatment center in Findlay, offers drug abuse outpatient services. A person could refer themselves to Century Health or be ordered by a court to enroll, according to Gary Bright, director of outpatient treatment services.

When enrolled, a person first undergoes an assessment, which seeks to determine what level of treatment they need based on the severity of the addiction and readiness for help, Bright said.

Century Health offers intensive counseling to groups and individuals, and encourages the person to get involved with a 12-step program such as Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous. One goal of the counseling is to educate the person on relapse prevention, he said.

"A lot of times, people don't have just the opiate addiction," Bright said. "They may need to be treated for alcohol, other drug dependencies and mental health issues."

In Toledo, Compass offers a residential, inpatient treatment program, in addition to a three- to five-day detoxification program.

In the longer-term residential, inpatient program, a person is enrolled between 30 and 54 days, according to Jessica Gonzalez, intake coordinator for Compass.

Compass also has a separate location for its methadone maintenance treatment program.

"Methadone maintenance can provide a short-term bridge into recovery, or be a lifelong tool to manage recovery from addiction to any kind of opiate including street and prescription drugs. It offers an affordable and healthy alternative to using," according to the Compass website.

St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima, offers a drug-abstinence detoxification program.

A patient stays at the hospital for a short period and is not given Suboxone or methadone, according to Jill Miller, clinical manager of addiction services.

The hospital also offers a three-week program of intensive outpatient treatment, in addition to group and individual counseling, and family education, she said.

The Maslow Center, also in Lima, provides individual and group counseling, education, and does referrals to other services which provide medicine to help cope with withdrawal.

Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio also has addiction help. It has branches, but its administrative office is in Toledo.

Further north in Albion, Mich., Narconon Freedom Center, which specializes in opiate addiction, offers both a drug rehabilitation program and a detoxification program. The drug rehabilitation program lasts between four and six months and does not use any medication to treat addiction, according to its website.

Another place to start looking for help is by using the Hancock County 2-1-1 system. It is a toll-free number people can call to get connected with community resources and volunteer opportunities, according to Amy Fisher, coordinator.

Online:

www.centuryhealth.net

www.ccrscompass.org

www.astopinc.com

www.ehealthconnection.com/regions/st_ritas

www.lssnwo.org

www.hancockcounty2-1-1.org

www.freedomdrugrehab.com



Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens

Thursday: How to spot an opiate addict. Also, how are heroin and pain pills being abused?


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3 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Jim Killebrew wrote:
The real victums
“ Go to Alanon, talk to the people who are affected by the actions of the drug user. ”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:57:55 PM
don wrote:
Not intensive outpatient treatment
“ I wish to clarify Mr. Brights statement that Century Health Inc. offers intensive substance abuse treatment. The ADAMHS board will not pay for Intensive Outpatient treatment What Mr. Bright is referring to is a mix of 60-90 minute outpatient programs that a client attends during the week. However, Intensive outpatient programs require patients to participate in programs that last for 3-8 hours a day. The members of the outpatient groups receive one-on-one counseling, group therapy and educational activities that include films, reading, speakers and homework assignments. Many court-ordered substance abusers must attend these intensive programs as part of their sentence, which can last from eight weeks to six months.
The intensive treatment Mr. Bright state is available fails to meet Government Guidelines. An intensive outpatient program must offer drug use monitoring, medication management and crisis intervention. ”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:49:34 AM
Jeanne wrote:
Excellent Resource Listing
“ ...not just for readers, but hope all medical offices keep a copy in their offices, plus copies in their waiting areas. If not already available as a handout, would be a good one that could be distributed to ALL business to have on employee bulletin boards and in a brochure holder somewhere on the premises for customers. ”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:22:48 AM
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
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Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.