The Coleman Institute Blog

One of the biggest roadblocks for people who want to stop using opioids is the fear of severe withdrawal. Many patients come to us after attempting to use other substances to try and mitigate their withdrawal symptoms. One of the substances we’ve heard about recently is kratom, which has gained popularity in recent years due to the belief that it can help patients deal with the symptoms associated with detox and withdrawal from opioids. But when a person attempts to self-detox by using a substance like kratom, they may be doing themselves more harm than good.

Opioid Use Disorder is a complex and debilitating disease that affects millions of individuals and their families worldwide. The path to detox and recovery can be challenging, but medication-assisted treatments (MAT) like Naltrexone Therapy can give patients an assist when it comes to curbing cravings and staying off opioids.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid and a major driver of the ongoing opioid crisis in America, has garnered widespread attention due to its exceptional potency and the rapid onset of its effects. This drug, which is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, was initially developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients. However, its use has expanded outside medical boundaries, leading to a significant public health issue.

With widespread misconceptions and social stigmas more commonplace than ever, heroin dependence and addiction often remain shrouded in myth and misunderstanding. While many still consider it to be caused by an individual’s moral failing, at its core, heroin use disorder is a complex interplay of psychological, biological, social, and environmental factors. Many patients have similar kinds of questions when they first reach out to our team at the Coleman Institute, and one we encounter frequently is whether heroin is classified as a stimulant or a depressant.

We all encounter difficult challenges that we must overcome at various points throughout our lives. For many, one of the most daunting is the struggle with alcohol dependence and addiction as part of an Alcohol Use Disorder. It is a condition that stealthily creeps into lives, often unnoticed at first then gradually tightening its grip, becoming a major concern and affecting health, relationships, and overall quality of life.