I take issue with your editorial, “Must Face Problem,” (Rio Grande SUN, April 30, 2009, page A6) regarding drug overdoses in our county. You leave readers with a picture of total despair. Conditions could certainly be improved, but you failed to focus on at least one treatment program that has brought new promise, otherwise thwarting what could be an even greater rise in overdose deaths.
In last week’s cover story, Suboxone was briefly mentioned as an opioid replacement therapy. At El Centro Family Health, we are using Suboxone to change the face of opioid addiction. And there are success stories. However, addiction is a deep seated and multi-generational problem that won’t be cured overnight.
Unfortunately, only specially trained physicians can prescribe Suboxone. We do not have enough of them. The federal government limits the number of patients that can be
prescribed. However, regular Suboxone trainings are offered so that more physicians may prescribe in our community.
Further, I didn’t see any mention of Harm Reduction in your editorial. Jeanne Block and her team have done a tremendous job with the needle exchange program, and the
distribution of Narcan has prevented further overdose deaths. Her efforts and those of her staff should be acknowledged and applauded.
You state in your editorial that “treatment is nonexistent.” For those of us who work at El Centro Family Health, nothing could be further from the truth.
Debra Newman
Physician Assistant
El Centro Family Health