Salt Lake Behavioral Health Responds to State increase of Opiate and Narcotics Dependency Cases

DALLAS, TX, March 15, 2012 (Press-News.org) Misuse of prescription drugs in Utah continues to exceed national estimates, yet there are few treatment options that address both pain and dependency reduction. Salt Lake Behavioral Health (SLBH), a local mental health and chemical dependency hospital, hopes to help save more lives with the introduction of a new behavioral pain management program that helps patients reduce dependency on opiate medication, while introducing adjunctive therapies such as acupuncture.

When as many as 40 percent of chronic pain patients who take opiates regularly misuse or abuse their medication, the effects can significantly impact their physical and mental health. In fact, over the last decade, there has been a 268 percent increase in unintentional drug poisoning cases in Utah.

"Prescription drug abuse is not a new problem, but one that deserves immediate renewed attention," said Dr. James Michael Marcum, medical director at SLBH. "Noting that opiate and narcotic dependency continues to grow at an alarming rate in Utah and across the nation, we've developed a behavioral pain management program that can help locals reduce their dependency on addictive pain medications."

Opiate drugs, such as Vicodin, OxyContin and Hydrocodone, are medications designed to lessen suffering of individuals with serious cases of chronic pain. These medications can be addictive, resulting in a dependency—affecting the physical and mental health of the abusers as well as that of their family and loved ones.

For those who live with chronic pain, medication alone does not provide long-term results. Prescriptions designed to relieve pain are one of the reasons individuals become reliant upon opiates. The new program at SLBH is designed to educate patients on the importance of alternative coping options.

The Behavioral Pain Management Program at SLBH addresses three distinct clinical areas impacting patients who live with chronic pain, including: Medication overuse and addiction, psychiatric illness with chronic pain, and medical problems that can complicate recovery from addiction.

According to Marcum, an integrated treatment modality must be utilized to produce long-term success in pain reduction.

"Eliminating dependency on opiates isn't as simple as taking away the medication," Marcum said. "Withdrawal has many side-effects, including rapid heart rate, sweating, restlessness, diarrhea, increased bone/joint aches, agitation and much more. Our program medically supervises the withdrawal and educates patients on alternative methods for relief."

In the program, patients are introduced to a variety of alternative coping skills, such as acupuncture, massage therapy and psycho-education. Patients work with a professional care manager to assist in planning aftercare appointments. By the time of their discharge from the program, patients will be on a reduced medication load and have better coping skills for management of chronic pain.

The new program at SLBH promotes better mental health as studies from the Drug Policy Alliance show that 40 to 80 percent of chronic pain patients experience depression or anxiety.

For more information about opiate dependency or the SLBH Behavioral Pain Management Program, please call 801-264-6000.

Opened in 2010, Salt Lake Behavioral Health (SLBH) is a 118-bed psychiatric hospital that provides mental health and chemical dependency care to children, adolescents, adults and senior adults. SLBH utilizes evidence-based treatment proven to have positive outcomes for patients. Inpatient and outpatient care is provided through a wide range of specialty programs that are individually tailored to meet the needs of patients in the military, the women's population and the youth and senior adult population. As a community service, SLBH provides free assessments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please call 801-264-6000 or visit http://www.saltlakebehavioralhealth.com. SLBH is a facility of Ascend Health Corporation.