Nov 3, 2023 2 min read

Whose gold standard?

Regarding the opioid crisis in Washington County, I was invited to a panel discussion called “The Road to Recovery” on Oct 23. The panel was designed to “bring key voices together on one of the biggest problems facing our county. Washington County will receive $11.5 million over the next 18 years, and we want to get it right.”

In the two hours we sat there listening, this phantom $11.5 million was only referred to twice. The rest of the time was spent justifying and smooth-talking the legislation that came down from Harrisburg that now requires rehabilitation, prisons and agencies that try to help addicts to offer them drugs that replace drugs. Known as Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT), it includes Suboxone, Sublocade, medical marijuana, Vivitrol and methadone. While MAT recovery is one alternative form of recovery that is considered a harm reducer, Suboxone or Sublocade is best used sparingly for a brief time because it is an opioid and it is addictive.

I was alarmed that three of the panelists reassuringly referred to this type of drug replacement treatment as “the gold standard” of recovery in their industry. I guess “abstinence plus change” is no longer the gold standard. Damn the 12 Steps.

My problem with this was highlighted by the panelists who’s businesses depend on the sick and suffering addict. I fear that the loved ones of the addicts think that these drugs put the addict into a safe zone. What they aren’t understanding is that these drugs are only effective with consistent use. Suboxone or Sublocade itself is addictive. The addict is told that they will have no withdrawal or cravings from their drug of choice, which may be true, however they are now addicted to a drug that the pharmaceutical industry has created an addiction for.

And, God forbid you should lose your insurance and miss your monthly shot. It’s back to rehab for you, or worse. It is almost as if some executive looked at the problem and said ” If we only had a drug we could substitute and make money from.”

For an addict, the true gold standard is a drug-free life due to abstinence plus change.

Patrick Arena

Washington