GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids doctor who specializes in addiction medicine says the medical industry is to blame for the rising opioid epidemic now claiming countless lives.
“Physicians never meant to harm anyone. Doctors were duped. They made pain the fifth vital sign and OxyContin was touted as a non-addictive drug. Patient satisfaction scores came along. We broke it and the hoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scale) is on us as a medical profession to help fix it,” said Dr. Sandy Dettman of the Dettman Center.
Dettman helped treat Kelly Galbraith, whose descent into opioid addiction was captured on video by a friend. Galbraith nearly died from a toxic mix of heroin and methamphetamine before earnestly starting her fight to become sober.
“She got her life back, and so can everyone else. This is a disease that is treatable,” said Dettman.
Like many users, Galbraith’s addiction started with a prescription drug: OxyContin.
“No one wakes up when they’re 12 and says ‘I want to be a heroin addict because it’s such a glamorous life.’ The fact is over 80 percent of heroin users started with prescription drugs,” said Dettman.
Dettman’s prescription to fight the epidemic is education.