WAISMANN METHOD® Medical Director Warns of Link Between Alcohol and Prescription Drug Abuse

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A series of studies conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) show a significant and alarming link between alcoholism and prescription drug abuse.  The NIDA-funded studies report that compared to those who do not drink at all, individuals suffering from alcoholism are 18 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs.  WAISMANN METHOD® rapid detox treatment medical director, Dr. Michael Lowenstein, is warning Americans that these reports indicate a grave and pressing situation that could potentially result in an overwhelming number of accidental deaths due to combining alcohol and prescription drugs.

"The rate of alcohol abuse with prescription drugs continues to rise rapidly in the U.S., and the number of fatalities resulting from this combination is quickly increasing," said Dr. Lowenstein.  "These studies are indicative of how this trend will continue to progress if drastic measures are not taken to help curb abuse.  The fact that younger individuals are the most likely group to abuse alcohol and prescription drugs together should be a wake-up call to parents, doctors, educators, and even policymakers.  As a community, we all share the responsibility to help ensure the safety of younger generations, and it is my hope that through education, legislation, proper disposal of unused medications, and more secure prescription writing protocols that we can all do our part to help stop this increase."

The first study surveyed more than 43,000 individuals 18 years and older between 2001 and 2005, and found that while only 9 percent of participants claimed to have alcohol abuse disorders, more than a third reported taking prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.  The subsequent study examined college students between the ages of 18 and 24, since they were the largest age group of alcohol and drug abusers from the initial study, and found that 7 percent of participants had abused both alcohol and prescription drugs within the last year.  The studies showed that the most popular prescription drugs that were abused with alcohol included stimulants, medications for anxiety and sleep, and opiates, like Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycontin. 

According to the researchers, individuals who continued to consume more alcohol in a sitting and had started drinking at a younger age were more likely to abuse prescription drugs.  The study involving college students showed that most participants abused medications that were prescribed for someone other than themselves, and found that those who abuse prescription drugs and alcohol together were more likely to vomit, suffer from loss of consciousness, and take part in dangerous behavior like driving while under the influence. 

For more information about WAISMANN METHOD® treatment please visit opiates.com.  For interviews contact Nicolette Surh at 877-975-3423 or send an email to Nicolette(at)rkpr(dot)net.

About WAISMANN METHOD® Treatment

WAISMANN METHOD® rapid opiate detoxification treatment is a safe and proven protocol for opiate dependency that utilizes the most advanced medical techniques available.  The rapid opiate detoxification treatment is carried out in a full-service hospital in Southern California by board-certified anesthesiologists while patients remain under deep sedation, so they experience minimal conscious withdrawal or suffering.  Following medical treatment, patients are taken to Domus Retreat for an assessment to determine any underlying causes of dependency, and a customized aftercare plan is assigned to ensure a healthy and effective transition to life without opiates.  WAISMANN METHOD® patients achieve an extraordinarily high success rate because they no longer fight the constant physical cravings for opiates that have led them to relapse in the past.  For more information, please visit opiates.com.

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