Philip Seymour Hoffman's heroin overdose puts focus on relapse prevention

World- renowned substance abuse expert Herbert Kleber, MD  is joined by opioid addiction specialist Adam Bisaga, MD for discussion on relapse risk, prevention & treatment of heroin addiction

• Only 20% of people with an opiate dependency are receiving treatment at a medical facility to reduce the risk of relapse and even fewer are on medication
• Medication-assisted treatment can reduce the risk of relapse. Brupenorphine and naltrexone are proven effective in preventing relapse and overdose deaths.
• The period three to six months after detox or rehab is the period of highest risk for relapse.  
• Addiction is the leading cause of preventable death in the US. And, according to CASA at Columbia, 40 million people over age 12 meet the criteria for addiction to nicotine, alcohol and other drugs.
• More than 2.5 million of Americans abuse opioids and many of them will die as a result of overdose.

For information on substance abuse treatment and research studies at Columbia Psychiatry, contact Substance Treatment and Research Service (STARS) at 212 923-3031 or www.stars.columbia.edu

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