The Coleman Institute Blog

I was moved to write a letter to a patient who completed an Accelerated Opioid Detox off Methadone last week. She is in the Post Acute Withdrawal (PAWS) stage, which can be very challenging. I have changed the name of the patient, but wanted to share the sentiments with you—or a loved one—who might be considering life without opioids, but are fearful of taking the plunge.

It is absolutely possible to stop using opioids and enjoy recovery. In fact, it is simple. It just may not be easy. Over the years working as a medical professional in the field of Substance Use Disorders (SUD), I have enjoyed poignant and memorable conversations with hundreds of patients who have shared recovery experiences. (more…)

Fred came for an implant yesterday. He detoxed off of street fentanyl 10 weeks ago. He was about a week late for his scheduled naltrexone implant and as the time drew closer to his return visit, he was getting antsy.

An argument with his wife, who is rightfully having trouble trusting Fred, caused him to get — in his own words — “a f__k-it attitude”. He found his old contacts easily, bought heroin and crack and, for the first time in weeks, ingested drugs into his body.

Gabby completed a screening form to come to the Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine looking for a safe way to stop drinking alcohol. Reviewing it before I called her back, I noted that Gabby was 35, a data analyst, married for ten years and had two children. Neither of her parents had any history of any sort of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and Gabby noted that she had never attended any form of treatment in the past for her alcohol use.

When I was a young mother with friends and family members having babies, I would often send a hand-lettered card with a poignant message by Elizabeth Stone:

“Making he decision to have a child — it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”