The Road Back From Addiction

How One Family Struggled To Knock Out Their Son’s $300-A-Day Prescription Abuse

(CBS)  Twenty-four year old Mark McCarthy is leaving home.

“I'm outta here,” he said.

For his mother, Florence, and father, Bob, it's a special trip. But it's also one they wish they didn't have to make, CBS News anchor Katie Couric reports.

“Tomorrow we're taking Mark to rehab,” Florence McCarthy said.

This is the new face of America's drug crisis.

“[We’re] middle-class as it comes. God-fearing people. And you know, we raised our kids right,” said Bob McCarthy.

“Oh yeah, we loved him,” Florence said.

But none of that love could save Mark, when five years ago he began his affair with the narcotic pain reliever OxyContin.

“I went from taking one, maybe two a day - until I was taking maybe nine a day,” Mark said.

In a matter of months, Mark was feeding a $300-a-day addiction, and the McCarthy family had descended into chaos.

“I wanted to murder him,” Bob said.

When a friend died after overdosing on prescription drugs, Mark decided to check into Florida's G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center.

Mark's failed at rehab twice already. But the staff here specializes in just such cases.

The average cost for a two-month stay is $28,000 dollars, some of which can be covered by certain insurance policies.

In rehab, Mark will confront his demons, with constant counseling and therapy.

"I'd like to improve my health," he said. "Because the drugs really downed my body."

He told a counselor: “I want this I really want this, so I'm just going to pray to God and have faith that everything will work out and everything will be fine.”

He'd record the details of the damage he'd done in a video diary.

“When I was taking Oxy's I would think about who am I going to rob today. Who am I going to steal from. Who am I going to have to hurt? I don't care because I want to get high,” he said.

Mark's erratic behavior is typical of what doctors say parents should be on the look out for. Potential warning signs include a drop in attendance and grades at school, financial problems, and changes in friends.

But like many, Mark's parents understood next to nothing about prescription drug addiction.

“I thought prescription drugs were okay because the doctor gave them to you,” Bob said.

It's that kind of thinking that fuels America's drug crisis - something Dr. Herbert Kleber has been monitoring for 35 years.

Does he think people perceive using prescription drugs differently than street drugs like heroin, crack marijuana?

“Absolutely. These drugs are perceived as safe, as medicinal, not drugs,” Cleber said.

And when the addict does get serious about finding help?

“There's not enough treatment available in this country,” he said.

It is estimated that every day 22 Million Americans need treatment for substance abuse of some kind, but only two million get help. And even those often experience a relapse.

After two months at "G & G," Mark McCarthy completed the program.

Now Mark's back with his parents, and can enjoy a night out - without drugs, hoping this time he's finally kicked the habit for good.

“I feel like I finally got my son back,” Bob said.

[jfortune1]

Please folks, do not be fooled by these posts. I have worked in this field for many years. There are NO magic pills that can cure addictions. Suboxone is only supposed to be used for 1-2 weeks..(on a taper program,at a medical detox where the medication can be given under Dr supervision)..Suboxone is an opiate derivative, the withdrawls are the same as any opiate.(when addicts stay on suboxone for more than 2-3 weeks, they are now addcited to suboxone) Naltroxone is a joke..If you relapse while taking Naltroxone it can be fatal..Again there are no pills to cure addiction. In-patient Treatment centers can give a person the best chance at recovery. A person MUST deal with the underlying issues that have caused them to self medicate. Followed be a recovery plan.

[recoveryfirst]

Suboxone really does work. So many of you are angry because you are saying that there is no doctor in your area that prescribes Suboxone> How do you know that? Because the name is on the physician locator. What happened to old fashioned leg work? Try calling the doctors in your area, I will bet that you have doctors that have not put their name on that list. In the town that I live in, there are only to doctors listed on that locator. But in reality we have over 20 doctors that prescribe it. How do I know that? I called and found out.
When your out looking for a pill and you can't find one at the first place you look, what do you do? You go to the next place and look there. Since when does an addict stop looking till they find what they are looking for. If you are looking for Suboxone to cure you, it won't it only manages your disease. Just like insulin manages diabetes.
You worked hard at your addiction for years, so now you have to work twice as hard at your recovery. If you want it you will work it.
It is not a simple as will power. It is not a moral issue. If you are looking for more information on addiction as a disease and Suboxone I found a very informative website. This website is also HonCode certified. What that means is that doctors and other professionals can go to that website and use the information there and know it is accurate. If you are looking at non HonCode certified websites, you are looking in the wrong place. Check them out;
www.suboxoneassistedtreatment.org
another one is
www.medicalassistedtreatment.org
Yes, I am a Suboxone patient and I speak from years of experience. If I have to be on Suboxone for the rest of my life, so be it. At least I have a life to look forward to.
Suboxone is designed to be used with counseling and not by itself. You need to change the way you do things and the places you go, not to mention the people that you hang out with. No one can do this for you. You have to do it for yourself.
And yes, Suboxone is addictive, if you stop taking it you will go into mild to moderate withdrawal. But if you are certain you want to stop taking it, then taper off of it. It can be done.
I wish you all a safe recovery. And a happy life.

[jfortune1]

CONT--if you doubt my comments below ask anyone who has taken suboxone for more than a month to stop taking the medication....you will see that they will experience serious withdrawl issues....I speak with people all day that are seeking help from suboxone addiction..

[jfortune1]

PLEASE understand that Suboxone was designed to be used ONLY as a detox medication.. It was only intended to be used in a medical detox facility. the detox protocol for opiate addicts is 7-10 days.. Then you are finished with suboxone if you stay on suboxone you will become addicted to it..(read the disclaimer for suboxone) YOU MUST deal with the underlying issues that caused you to use opiates in the first place. And a pill is not the answer! Inpatient treatment programs can help with these issues.. NOT A PILL.. If you listen to the ads for suboxone on the radio you will hear at the end that is is sponsored by the pharmacutical companies!!!!!!!!!

[stoprx]

Here is a list of doctors in the U.S. who have been approved to prescribe Suboxone. You may want to try a non-profit organization typically your cost to see the doctor is based on your finances. I agree the cost of suboxone is crime...once again more money for the drug manufactures. http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator/

[motofaddict]

To withouthelp -- You are so right in your statements...there are very few doctors who actually prescribe suboxone -- or the last doctor I spoke to wanted to charge me 800.00 for the prescription???? I I wish I had advice, just wanted to send you words of encourgagement to hang in there and do not give up.....

[rmcressman]

I had been addicted to pain killers for quite sometime, Suboxone saved me, but the information Katie Couric gave was not true. Suboxone has been around now for at least 3 years, I know because I have been on it for that long, also only Doctors who have a special licence are able to prescribe it (not many) Hopefully more will soon. I''m glad awarness is being made so this drug can help others not have to live with the daily fear of addiction. For the person who thinks it is way cheaper to stay on the pain meds, I say to them, what is the cost of your life??? I promise I now am alive, married, a mother, blessed and sucessful because of suboxone and can you really put a cost on that?

[gjhovland]

Okay Dr. Gupta:
I noticed that you indicated that the new medications for addiction can "even be prescribed by a family practitioner." It is time that you stopped the prejudice against practitioners of family medicine. They are some of the more broadly prepared practitioners of allopathic medicine in our country -- they don''t have the luxury of specializing in a particular body part, instead they respond to the needs of the whole patient (and all of the systems) and the family. I see FP''s as the front line of health care, and it is time that snobs like you stop broadcasting slurs on the primary care physician, particularly the FP.

[rmcressman]

I had been addicted to pain killers for quite sometime, Suboxone saved me, but the information Katie Couric gave was not true. Suboxone has been around now for at least 3 years, I know because I have been on it for that long, also only Doctors who have a special licence are able to prescribe it (not many) Hopefully more will soon. I''m glad awarness is being made so this drug can help others not have to live with the daily fear of addiction. For the person who thinks it is way cheaper to stay on the pain meds, I say to them, what is the cost of your life??? I promise I now am alive, married, a mother, blessed and sucessful because of suboxone and can you really put a cost on that?

[rmcressman]

I had been addicted to pain killers for quite sometime, Suboxone saved me, but the information Katie Couric gave was not true. Suboxone has been around now for at least 3 years, I know because I have been on it for that long, also only Doctors who have a special licence are able to prescribe it (not many) Hopefully more will soon. I''m glad awarness is being made so this drug can help others not have to live with the daily fear of addiction. For the person who thinks it is way cheaper to stay on the pain meds, I say to them, what is the cost of your life??? I promise I now am alive, married, a mother, blessed and sucessful because of suboxone and can you really put a cost on that?

[motofaddict]

As a mother of a oxycotine, heroin addict I was of course interested in your story tonight on suboxone. I just wanted to let you in on reality, it is almost impossible to get a prescription of suboxone. I cannot afford rehab and have been trying for months to find a doctor who might work with my 20 year son to get help, to no avail. It is so disturbing to know that there is something out there that could help my son and cannot get to it. My son has overdosed twice now and I spend every waking minute of every day trying to figure out what I did wrong and what I can do to help so it is great to hear about your wonder drug -- when will it really be available to the middle class American???????

[loveletter88]

How tragic. It''s crazy how many teenagers are addicted to prescription drugs these days. it''s almost getting a little ridiculous. Teens seem to have more and more addictions. Any thoughts on why drug addiction is on the rise?

One of my new favorite shows about the topic is on A&E, called Intervention. It basically studies to the addict''s life, convincing them that they''re participating in a documentary. At the end, they show them the results of their addiction, and force them to choose between intervention or continuing their selfish ways. I think it''s great how it shows the real reactions of an addict''s life, as well as how the intervention and addiction process really work. If you haven''t, you should check it out: http://www.aetv.com/intervention. The new series premiers at 9pm on December 3rd. I am working to support this because I think it''s imperative to understand the implications of addiction and its affect on loved ones. How have you guys been dealing with addiction?

[gtor72]

i would ask cbs to air the facts about suboxone, such as the cost is about $7.00 a pill, only 1500 doctors in the u.s. are allowed to prescribe it, and it costs $200-$300 for the first doctors visit. it is way cheaper to stay on the pain meds.
please see www.suboxone.com for all the facts.

[stoprx]

My son came home from college in May addicted to OxyContin. He has been clean 3 months and is taking suboxone. When it ran low last month he craved OxyContin. I was frustrated when I couldn''t find much information so I put a website together www.StopRxDrugAbuse.org. Hope it is able to help someone. I have been sending it to friends, Dean of Students at colleges, High school principals, PTAs...this is a very serious epidemic that is killing many innocence people.

[stoprx]

My son came home from college in May addicted to OxyContin. He has been clean 3 months and is taking suboxone. When it ran low last month he craved OxyContin. I was frustrated when I couldn''t find much information so I put a website together www.StopRxDrugAbuse.org. Hope it is able to help someone. I have been sending it to friends, Dean of Students at colleges, High school principals, PTAs...this is a very serious epidemic that is killing many innocence people.

[stoprx]

My son came home from college in May addicted to OxyContin. He has been clean 3 months and is taking suboxone. When it ran low last month he craved OxyContin. I was frustrated when I couldn''t find much information so I put a website together www.StopRxDrugAbuse.org. Hope it is able to help someone. I have been sending it to friends, Dean of Students at colleges, High school principals, PTAs...this is a very serious epidemic that is killing many innocence people.

[debbievb55]

Some advice please. My son has been on Xanax for a couple of years now. Supposedly for bi-polar. He is trying to quit but is unable. We don''t have the funds to do rehab. Will this suboxone work for him?

[dontforgetus]

ok this is for the mis-informed and ignorant (which seem to be the majority of the media) for us that are in need of opoid treatment for chronic pain. www.cpmission.com/main/painthekiller.html
...READ THIS...

[dontforgetus]

ok this is for the mis-informed and ignorant (which seem to be the majority of the media) for us that are in need of opoid treatment for chronic pain. http://www.cpmission.com/main/painthekiller.html
...READ THIS...

[dontforgetus]

ok this is for the mis-informed and ignorant (which seem to be the majority of the media) for us that are in need of opoid treatment for chronic pain. http://www.cpmission.com/main/painthekiller.html
...READ THIS...