Prescription For Addiction

60 Minutes' Scott Pelley Reports On A New Addiction Treatment

(CBS)  The first Prometa patients were treated in 2003. Now, 70 doctors offer Prometa. And about 2,500 addicts have had the therapy. Pelley met some at a support group meeting Dave Smart had organized at his apartment.

Matt Wild lost an eye in a meth lab explosion. But he didn't stop using until Prometa. "I just don't got no cravings. I mean, it's personally, for me, it's a wonder drug. I've been addicted to it for 30 some years," Wild tells Pelley.

Wild's wife Melanie couldn’t stop either.

"You went to prison three times, you got burned in a meth fire," Pelley remarks.

"I lost my children, my children were seven, six, and two. I couldn’t even stay clean, as much as I loved my children," she says.

The state took her children. Melanie says, after she was burned in the fire, she left the hospital burn unit to go straight to her meth dealer. Now, after Prometa, she says she's been clean for five months, and Matt for two.

"You just can't help feeling good about what you're doing," Terren Peizer says.

Terren Peizer had barely sat down for our interview, when he seemed to be overcome at the first mention of patients. "You get away from the clinical and you get down to the personal. And it -- there's nothing like it. So, yeah, it's a lot of people say, well, you know, 'Why do you, why are you doing this?' Like - and say how can I not do it?" he says.

Peizer is better known as a steely eyed financier, a former bond salesman who worked for, then testified against Michael Milken, infamous in the junk bond scandal of the 1980’s. When Peizer heard about the drug therapy, he started a public company called "Hythiam." He raised $150 million from investors. The name Prometa is Greek, meaning "positive change." For patients it's not small change: the therapy can cost $15,000.

Peizer has enormous plans: Prometa centers across the nation, one day accepted by health insurance and the courts.

In Tacoma, he convinced Pierce County to be a model of the future. The county put up $400,000 to offer Prometa to addicts in drug court.

"You could talk to 100 physicians out there using it. You could talk to 2,000 patients using it. If your son had it, would you want him to do it?" Peizer asks.

"You believe most people would," Pelley says.

"Would you?" Peizer asks.

"I'd be happier if I knew it was approved by the FDA, personally," Pelley replies.

"They’re just saying this stuff works without actually subjecting it to the proper kinds of trials," says Dr. John Mendelson, who says the science doesn’t match Prometa’s promotion.

He's a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco and senior scientist at the Addiction Pharmacology Lab at the California Pacific Medical Center. He tests therapies for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"You don’t think there is anything special about this combination of drugs?" Pelley asks.

"So far the evidence would suggest no," Mendelson says.

Mendelson says none of the drugs used in Prometa seem to effect addiction.

"Terren Peizer says he wants to make Prometa the standard of care," Pelley tells Mendelson.

"That is his goal, he wants to make it the standard without any evidence," Mendelson replies. "And he’s spending money to recruit the treaters and to recruit the insurance payers but not to prove that the treatment works."

Proving it works would require what scientists call a "placebo controlled, double blind study." That's a human trial in which half the patients take a placebo, or sugar pill -- neither the patients nor doctors know who got the real drugs until the end. Peizer went to market without that kind of study and without asking the FDA to approve his method or marketing.

"So if you don't ask the FDA for approval …you can say anything you want?" Pelley asks.

"That's pretty much the damn truth," Mendelson says.

"I think people would be shocked by that," Pelley remarks.

"It is shocking. It is shocking. I, to be honest with you, I've never seen anyone actually try it. And this is one of those loopholes that may exist because no one has had the chutzpah to go out and actually try it. But up 'til now," Mendelson says.

[missmarcy]

this sounds all good but when it comes to helping most of the people that this may help it will never be help to them. something like this would put to many people out of a job. the people that have addition issue pay a lot of other peoples bill. it is a sham something like this should be reasonable for the worst meth junky to pay for. but the bull that would acompany even considering getting help such as this, would be reduclous. not to mention a trap in most peoples minds. the money is more powerful not to help people hooked on meth. it will never be reachable. sad sad sad. nobody cares realy inway do they. please excuse my spelling but you get what I am saying.

[feather686988]

Thanks for this information, I will surely be passing it on!

[ponyboyex1979]

I am interested in gettin some more info about theis treatement

[ponyboyex1979]

I feel like the guy or lady above me if some one has the e=answer we should be praising and offering our assistance inorder for allk who need it are capableof gettin it . Instead of attempting to hmake sure it is kept a secret of help in the red tape and procrastinatin of those who don't care for those awefull and dlow enough to be involved the drugs of accessive uwse of alcohol

[ponyboyex1979]

I think it is wounderful and should be further researched inorder to also allow some assistance or relief from Heroin addiction. When you do givce mea call I as well as others are simply users of nacessaty.

[ponyboyex1979]

I find the fact of some thing with such good results such as described thus fare is somethign that even thought there appears to be some actions which do infact lead one to question the authenticity and loyalties of those involed about weather infact the well being and future of a person are the top priority and conserne but If you infactt have experienced addiction and the suffering and agony from breaking away from its strong ,holds the abilities to figure and putforth actiions so that some one can have a seconed chance at a realy life. with out the painful lengthy drawn own torture of detoxing and recovering from addiction. Good for them to offersomething so desperately lacking is the wold finally being discovered and is out there for the better good instead of being held behing red tape just out of arms reach taunting and teasing at the Idea that some thing may exsit or is it jsut another false hope and a slap in the face about how low and how uncared for that they are. Now if there was only somethign as great as this for Heoin addicts the world would have a great fewer addicts then there are today. What peopole don;t understandis that a large persent of the users only use for necessaty not for forgetting or disolving the crumbeling would surrounding them which was probably a leading factor os for l the initial injestion but now is a constant suffering every moment of every day. Resulitig in the requirement to always maintain posession in order for there to be any chance of haveing any kind of productinve life. Heroins is the only drug I have ever done that doesn't let go even alithhle. And detox is beyong horrable you welcome and Beg for death.

[workedforme]

Dear david704, please contact me at [e-mail], and I will tell you how to get Prometa for free if you qualify.

Thank You, David Smart

[ffink10]

a few months ago you had a segment on medical marijuana abuse in california I would like the name of the person you interviewd at the very end of the piece to tell him how medical marijuana was detrimental to my mental health it made me psychotic and delusional.please send me his name and phone number to tell him how a psychiatrist gave a patient a license to smoke pot who suffered from depression. [e-mail]

[oscarbfrog]

first of FOUR [thought it would fit in three - oops]

http://news.morningstar.com/news/View
News.asp?article=/BW/20071031006250_univ
.xml

http://url.rexroof.com/16455

The Pierce County Alliance (the Alliance) today released a statement providing additional information and addressing inadequate analysis .... which resulted in termination of county funding for its PROMETA-based Treatment Program

[oscarbfrog]

---second of four --

The PROMETA Treatment Program pilot was offered to clients from [the] MOST DIFFICULT group, and not the average population we encounter. Of the 40 people that were included in the pilot, three people did not complete treatment and two people were transferred to receive appropriate mental health treatment.

Of the remaining 35 individuals, 86% did NOT return to drug use over the first 14 months of the PROMETA Treatment Program. In addition, 98% of all urine drug screens that were taken were negative. The reduction in cravings experienced by PROMETA-treated patients resulted in significant reductions of drug use and contributed to the [positive] outcomes for this difficult to treat group.

The outcomes ... in the Family Drug Court are even more compelling. The participants treated ... had 53 children between them, and when these cases were reviewed between March 2006 and June 2007, 51 of those [53] children were either reunited with their parents or voluntarily placed in guardianship or adoption ...

In summary:

-- The authors of the briefing report had no background or expertise with drug treatment processes, non-profit organizations, nor were they familiar with treatment outcome measurements.

[oscarbfrog]

---third of four ---

-- The writers provided ... assessment without offering the Alliance opportunity to respond, clarify or explain any points or apparent discrepancies.

-- Because both successful and non-successful clients reported vastly reduced cravings, the writers question[ed] the value of [reduced] cravings in predicting success. Their analysis ... is incomplete and does not take into account the dramatic reduction in drug use that was found across most subjects ... whether or not they completed drug court.

-- The writers of the briefing paper concluded that a performance audit would not be useful [because of competition from] state funded University of Washington ... contracted through the state''''s Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

-- The report implied a lack of support ... The Alliance provided the County Council with letters of support from the following:

-- Justice Charles Sandoval of Collin County, Texas'''' 380th Judicial
District Court
-- Jerry Madden, Chairman of the Texas House Corrections Committee and
Congressional representative for the 67th congressional district
-- Justice Deidre Monroe of City Court of Gary, Indiana''''s Second
Chance Drug Court Program
-- Mitch Lyles, Director Adult Probation for Denton County, TX

-- The report cites three data outcomes ..., ignoring ... many additional measures ... without seeking explanation

[oscarbfrog]

-fourth of four-

-- In addition to not factoring into their analysis individuals recharged on their original offense and retroactively deemed ineligible for drug court, the briefing report also failed to take into account positive outcomes from a drug treatment perspective for non drug court graduates such as:

-- Individuals voluntarily released from drug court after regaining
employment and/or regaining custody of their children and
demonstrating to the court that they had not returned to drug use

-- Individuals with psychiatric co-morbidities discharged to mental
health services after demonstrating to the court that they had
not returned to drug use

For 35 years the Alliance has fought the incessant linkage of drugs and crime, ... secured multi-million dollar grants to pioneer felony, family, and juvenile drug treatment courts in Pierce County. ... The Alliance has led the way on all of these efforts, including the adoption and use of the PROMETA Treatment Program.

About Pierce County Alliance ...

About Hythiam, Inc. ... For further information, please visit www.hythiam.com.

Pierce County Alliance :: Terree Schmidt-Whelan, 253-572-4750

=======[[xnip]]=========

Friday HYTM close before Sunday 60 mins report == $3.99
Monday HYTM close after Sunday 60 mins report == $3.35 -16.04%
Tuesday HYTM early-afternoon after Sunday 60 mins report == $2.91 -27.07%

so much for profit-mongering

[colealivia2]

MY NAME IS STACY AND I WANT TO SCREAM TO THE TOP OF MY LUNGS THAT THIS STUFF WORKS. I AM A 10 YEAR VICODIN ADDICT. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND THEY ALSO HAD A TREATMENT FOR PAIN KILLERS.
IT COST 1200.00 FOR ONE TREATMENT THAT I CHOSE TO HAVE IN CHICAGO. I HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR 4 MONTHS TO THE DAY I RECEIVED THE TREATMENT.
THE TREATMENT I HAD WAS NALTREXLONE. PLEASE IF ANYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS ADDICTION CALL HYTHIAM.
I HAVE NO AND I MEAN NO CRAVINGS WHAT SO EVER.
I HAVE MY LIFE BACK. IT SAVED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STACY

[pjb16510]

Well, I am not trying to be negative here...but, I got to tell ya, it seems like there is sooo much more info available to the "addicts" using the treatment than the actual news footage. Sounds suspicious to me. If in fact, a person is interested in treatment than go for it, but a good 12 step program is the way to assist in changing past behaviors. Anyone involved with a loved one, friend or family member needs to have their very own program and counseling away from the addict. The addict must work their treatment and program for themselves and their loved ones need to have their own program. That is why there is 12 step programs for everyone. I am a recovering cocaine addict, over 7 years dirty and 20 years counting, one day at a time, clean. I am married to an addict, with his own problems. He does own program and I do mine. We maintain sobriety and sometimes sanity. He takes zoloft to take the edge and some of the desire away. He has slipped. but it is easy for him day by day. This not saying there is not something out there to take the cravings away, but if you are living correctly it should be easier. Anyone can contact any of the 12 step programs on line for information or even to chat. Friends and family can go to Alanon for alcoholics and Naranon for addicts.

[christy0509]

You can find out more about where you can get the treatment at www dot prometainfo dot com. Yes, it is about $15K, but like I said in a previous post, you can get patient assistance if you qualify.

[sandiakers]

Where is this drug being made available? And does it really cost $15,000?

[christy0509]

Also for those of you who want to look into the treatment but can''t afford it, they do offer patient assistance. Just ask about it if you call. You can also go to a "not for profit" website www dot enddependence dot org and they can help also.

[onedayatatim]

57% success rate sounds good to me. Isn''t it something like 8 to 16% with traditional therapies of treatment and 12-step groups?
I say let''s try to get the treatment out there to as many folks as we can for free. It''ll be cheaper in the long run than prison, institutional care or burying them. I''ve loss my son to drugs and alcohol. Oh, he''s still breathing but his soul and mind are gone. I am one of those parents who would try anything because I have nothing to lose.

[christy0509]

(continued...last post) Also...something else I''ve seen a lot of comments on..this is not just a medical treatment. Part of the Prometa protocol is going through intensive outpatient counseling. Whether it be individual, AA, NA or an outpatient ITP. They know that the medical treatment is only PART of the solution. Now, I''m not a dr or a pharmacist "class of 96 graduate" but I am married to an addict and have seen, first hand, the effect this treatment has had on my husband. I think unless you are directly affected by addiction, you have a different "take" on the whole subject. You don''t TRULY understand the way this disease can tear a family apart. If there is something out there like Prometa that can help and IS HELPING then why would anyone want to be negative about that?

[christy0509]

(continued...)And..it WORKS. How?? . When you are addicted to meth, your brain is slowly depleted of dopamine...which is a "happy hormone". The meth eventually starts taking the place of dopamine because the chemical "make up" of meth and dopamine are very similar. This "tricks" the brain into thinking your body has plenty of dopamine so it stops producing it. Once the addict tries to quit using on their own, it can take a VERY long time to replenish the part of the brain that has been damaged. THIS is exactly why there is only a 3% success rate of people quitting on their own. Without dopamine, the addict will be depressed, won''t be able to get out of bed, won''t be able to function in every day life. So they relapse. With Prometa, it helps to restore that part of the brain 80% faster than trying to go "cold turkey".