Mayhill Hospital Offers New Treatment Program Designed to Reduce Opiate Dependency

Nov. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Mayhill Hospital is introducing a new treatment program that helps patients reduce dependency on opiate medication.  Opiate dependency is an increasingly dangerous addiction in the nation, yet there are few treatment options that address both pain and dependency reduction.

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, between 1999 and 2007, there was a 150 percent increase in Texas opiate-related deaths, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.

“Prescription drug abuse is not a new problem, but one that deserves renewed attention,” said Susan Young, CEO of Mayhill Hospital. “Noting that opiate dependency continues to grow at an alarming rate in Texas and across the nation, we’ve developed a behavioral pain management program that North Texans can use as a resource to reduce 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 Mayhill Hospital is designed to educate patients on the importance of alternative coping options.

The Behavioral Pain Management Program at Mayhill Hospital 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 Young, 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,” Young 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 Mayhill 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 first patient treated under the pain management program was able to reduce their pain and medication levels by 50 percent. Patients currently in the program are showing similar improvement.

In addition, the new program at Mayhill Hospital 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 Mayhill Hospital Behavioral Pain Management Program, please call Michelle Lee, director of business development, at 940-765-2455.

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Founded in 2006, Mayhill Hospital is a psychiatric hospital that provides mental health and chemical dependency care to adults and seniors. Utilizing evidence-based treatment proven to have positive outcomes for patients, Mayhill Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient care through a wide range of individually tailored specialty programs. As a community service, Mayhill Hospital offers free assessments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please call 940-239-3000 or visit www.mayhillhospital.com.