Doctors See Promise In New Addiction-Fighting Implant
By Kathy Walsh
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - There is a new weapon for fighting addiction to heroin and painkillers. The FDA has approved an implant that can curb craving and withdrawal for six months.
Federal estimates claim more than 2.5 million Americans are addicted to legal painkillers like oxycodone and illegal narcotics like heroin.
"I think that's very conservative. I suspect there's even more," said Addiction Medicine Specialist Dr. Patricia Pade with CeDAR, the Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Hospital.
In May, the FDA approved a new weapon to combat the opioid problem. It's an implant called Probuphine.
"Nobody's cured from addictions but they are a highly treatable disease, much like diabetes and hypertension," said Dr. Pade.
She said, with the implant, addicts won't miss a dose of medication. She likes that it breaks the habit of taking an oral treatment and that it's hard to remove and sell.
This is how it works: four rods, each the size of a matchstick, are implanted into the upper arm. Over six months, the rods slowly release an already proven medication into the bloodstream. It travels to the brain and effectively blocks the craving to get high.
"I have not yet prescribed or put one of the implants in," said Pade.
Pade says the implant costs nearly $5,000 every six months. She says CeDAR is expecting its first case in July.
On July 26, CeDAR will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary and kicking off the public phase of its $30 million Capital and Endowment Campaign with a fundraising concert by The Fray.
Additional Information from Braeburn Pharmaceuticals:
If doctors and primary care providers are interested in being trained to administer Probuphine, they can sign up at http://probuphinerems.com/providers/. Doctors only need to attend a single session. The schedule in Denver is:
Friday, 7/15 1pm - 5pm
Friday, 7/15 6pm - 10pm
Saturday, 7/16 8am - 12pm
Saturday, 7/16 1pm - 5pm
Sunday, 7/17 8am - 12pm
Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.
