Hope for Substance Abuse Clients

1. Hope for Substance Abuse Clients Loretta Butehorn PhD CCH Join Annual Homeopathic Conference 2013

2. Goals for this Presentation • Describe research in substance abuse treatment • Identify use of Nux vomica as “protocol” treatment for early stabilization after detoxification for chemical addiction • Discuss partnering with allopathic substance abuse treatment in community.

3. Problem • Clients who have used traditional allopathic detoxification for substance dependence most often develop PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) • Paws often causes immediate withdrawal from substance abuse treatment and relapse • An acute, immediate intervention would be useful to stabilize the client before constitutional treatment can be used.

4. Sample of NWS • TERRY 53 yr old woman’s husband murdered before her eyes- was drugging and living in an unsafe park in Boston in a tent –to which she would return if she relapsed • JOYCE 12 yr old impregnated by stepfather thought to be “whoring around” by her mother-today a 22 year old women who has supported herself through prostitution and is desperate to stop but has no real supports

5. NWS continued • LISA as a 17 year old tried to get her mom out of crack house, ended up using crack with mom-today as a 25 year old ,relapse would mean continued decline • ANDREA as a 22 year old left her terminally ill husband without saying goodbye because she couldn’t stand to watch him die- today as a 45 year old cannot hold a job and last relapse left her homeless is buried in guilt • Real people, real pain

6. Each person in this population had a significant history of severe trauma , abuse, abandonment prior to beginning drug use with significant number of attempts at treatment and multiple treatment “failures.”

7. Today • What is PAWS • How we developed an homeopathic intervention for this population of clients • What were the results…..

8. PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) • Severe cravings for any drug which causes addiction • Irritability, agitation • Nausea, diarrhea, sleep disturbance • Memory disturbance • If you have ever had a craving for chocolate multiple that physical-emotional experience by 1000 and you might get the idea of what client is experiencing

9. Specific Research Substance Abuse Rx and Homeopathy

10. Research in addiction and homeopathy • Heroin addicts in India, 60 patients • 35% left study from placebo group • 5% from homeopathic group • Significant decrease in cravings and withdrawal symptoms • Resulted in institutionalization of homeopathy in substance abuse rx in India -Bakski, presented on Nat Conf on Homeopathy and Drug Abuse, March 1990

11. Nux vomica • Controlled study rats and alcohol • Choice of alcohol and non alcohol bottles • Significantly reduced alcohol intake with homeopathic treatment Sukul NC, et al “Strychnos Nuv Vomica extract and its ultra high dilution reduce voluntary ethanol intake in rats” J Altern Com Med. 2001 Apr;7(2):187-93.

12. Detox and Post acute withdrawal • 1993-Detox CA 703-randomized, controled-18 months: Relapse: 32% of homeopatic, 68% of placebo rx, 72% of regular detox— S. Garcia-Swain,M.D. in Lanksy, 2003.

13. Genus epidemicus • Van de Zee’s* use of Hahnemann’s construct of genus epidemicus to prescribe for trauma victims as a group a model for Nuxvomica protocol. • We decided to treat this as an acute condition, and use the combined symptoms of the population • Using this as a model, we began offering Nuxvomica 200 c in water, succussed, as needed for 1 week to clients suffering from PAWS before constitutional treatment *“Healing Collective Trauma” in Homeopathy and Mental Health Harry van der Zee 200

14. Informal results • In 2 Boston 6 month treatment programs-2006-2010 we offered “Nux Protocol” • 2006-2008- 2 programs- 39% and 33% completion rate non-homeopathic group, with homeopathy 64% and 66% completion rate. Butehorn et al, attached in handouts

15. Use of Nux Protocol at Department of Public Health Hospital in Boston

16. Boston Area Substance Abuse Treatment Center 2010-2011 • 28 day post detox program • Nux vomica 200 c 1-2 dry doses for PAWS • Self selected population • Women between 18 and 70 • Multiple drug addiction

19. Dec 2010-Dec 2011 Non homeopathic= 184 Homeopathic=138 • Completed 42% * • Left program after less than 48 hrs(ACA)=11% • Left program after 48 hrs (ACA)=23% * • Dismissed compliance issues=6% • Completed 63% * • Left program after less than 48 hrs (ACA)= 7% • Left program after 48 hrs (ACA)=15% * • Dismissed compliance issues=2% *=statistical significance

20. Remedy Fit

26. Totality of all charts

27. Logananceae Based on work presented by Morrison and Herrick at American Medical College of Homeopathy Conference Sept 2012.

28. Grief/Betrayal/Trauma Metabolized by…………. Sadly, often met with • Validation disbelief • Support vilification • Processing refusal to listen • Safety blatantly unsafe So self medication becomes the default option resulting in addiction

29. Nux Vomica • Hangover drug • And now I call it the “arnica of addiction” • This is a terrific “protocol”for people in early stages of recovery (post detoxification from alcohol and other drugs.)

30. To collaborate • Send me an email(lbutehornphd@gmail.com) if you are involved in a similar public service project so we can support each other • Donate to our The Sidewalk Clinic (tax deductable) mail to SOTM/The Sidewalk, 345 Neponset Ave Boston,MA 02122 • This is a collaborative project of the Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative and School, Boston,MA Email: teleosisschool@gmail.com Phone or Text us at: (617) 564 - 0321

31. One picture is worth a thousand words…..