Can an Implant Device Help Woman with her Opioid Addiction?
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The Doctors welcome addiction specialist Dr. Joseph DeSanto and Anna, who has battled an opioid addiction, to discuss a new device that is being implanted in the body to combat addiction.
They discuss The Bridge device, which uses small electrical nerve stimulators that are placed behind the ear to send pulses to cranial nerves to help provide relief from withdrawal symptoms. It can be used for up to 5 days during acute withdrawal. The device is currently only available with a prescription. The Doctors explain that in one study participants had a 31 percent drop on the opioid withdrawal scale. Clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Ho says that multiple approaches should be used to treat addiction, but she likes this device as a starting point.
Watch: New Device for Opioid Withdrawal?
Anna says her substance abuse issues began when she as just 11 years old with alcohol. She tells us this led to using meth, an arrest, rehab, and a relapse. Following a second stint in rehab and a wrist injury, she started using opioids. She is currently in the midst of a medical detox and has The Bride device installed to help with her drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which include shaking, sweating and feeling cold, nightmares and body aches. In conjunction with The Bridge device 10 days later, Anna has an implant placed in her abdomen, which contains Naltrexone, which is also used to treat cravings. Dr. DeSanto says this implant is effective for "several months"
Anna tells us she is "doing great" following the implant. She says felt a difference in just a matter of hours. In addition to the implant, she is using cognitive behavioral therapy as well and says is not experiencing cravings any longer.
Watch: Recovering Opioid Addicts Share Their Stories
"I'm not depressed. I'm not anxious, starting with The Bridge device... I feel like I have these magical powers almost because not everybody gets to go through life truly being depressed and then truly not. I just have so much compassion for myself that I wish I would have had my whole life. I just get to be loving and gentle with myself now and it's really a gift," she shares.
The Doctors note that Anna's story highlights that addiction can affect anyone and offers hope about possible new and innovative ways to possibly treat this epidemic.
