60% to 70% of substance abuse is due to genetic factors, according to NIH. Now, there is something that you can do about it.

 

Laboratory Testing

Medical Detoxification

Medical Nutrition

Laboratory Testing

Salugen Biosciences offers proprietary genetic testing to help physicians identify patients at greater risk for developing substance abuse or tolerance to either avoid centrally-acting opioids or more closely monitor those patients with urine drug testing.  For patients already at risk for dependence or tolerance, the Salugen HAVEOS Genetics Test can help guide medical detoxification.

For narcotic dependence and tolerance risk, the Salugen System offers two HAVEOS Genetic tests;

For patients naive to narcotics or early in therapy to screen risk
The HAVEOS Genetics 2-Gene Screen Test analyzes two single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with dependence and tolerance:

• Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene (DRD2 A1 Allele)
• Mu-Opiod Receptor Gene (OPRM1 A118G)

For patients already taking high dose narcotics with low functionality
The HAVEOS Genetics 12-Gene Test analyzes two single nucleotide polyrmorphisms associated with dependence and tolerance:

• Serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine 5-HT) Genes (2A Receptor 1438G/A and 5-HTTLPR) 
• Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase (COMT) Val158Met Polymorphism
• Dopamine Genes (D2 Receptor A1 Allele, D1 Receptor -48A/G polymorphism, Dopamine Transporter DAT1 DdeI, and Dopamine–beta-hydroxylase gene (DBH) -1021 C/T) 
• Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene (MTHFR C677T)
• Human Kappa (κ) Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1 36 G>T)
• Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) (1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 Gene
• Mu-Opiod Receptor Gene (OPRM1 A118G)

 

Medical Detoxification

Salugen NESP Approach

Prescription narcotic dependence, abuse and addiction has risen more than 335% over the last decade. In addition, other drugs such as muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, and antidepressants (“collateral drug abuse”) that are often prescribed to aide the effects of narcotics, has also risen at an alarming rate.

Many people who know they have a problem don’t get help because of embarrassment, fear of losing their jobs or they simply don’t know where they can get help. The Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) was passed by Congress in 2000. This opened the door for physicians to treat narcotic abuse in the office setting which had been previously outlawed since 1914. In 2002 the drug Suboxone™ was approved by the FDA for this purpose. The NESP™ approach to narcotic detoxification program which utilizes Suboxone™ and other modalities developed by Salugen Medical Director, Gregory A. Smith, M.D., QME, was started in 2005.

This revolutionary program is usually outpatient and can detoxify a patient in as little as 3 hours. Many patients can return to work the same day they undergo the program. Detoxification is only the first step. An aggressive approach to treating the addiction and/or chronic pain after detoxification is achieved using blood-type diets, class IV laser, cranioelectrical stimulation (CES) and psychiatric/psychological support. This part of the program is unique and is the key to permanent success.

Patients come in for an initial consult with the physician. During this visit the program is explained in detail and the patient is given instructions and take home information on the program. The patient then returns on the appointment date for detoxification. Blood and urine are obtained and medication is given for detoxification. The medication is sublingual (under the tongue). Patient’s can expect to remain in the office for 1-3 hours. A follow up visit is then done 24 hours later. Additional follow up visits occur every week for a total of 5 weeks. Some patients will require a maintenance program after the initial 5-week program.

This program is powerful, fast, and effective. Finally, confidentially is of utmost importance and only the patient and members of the staff will know the nature of the patient’s visit. Other patients will be in the office for various other acute and chronic pain problems, therefore your privacy is guaranteed.

 

Salugen's Integrative Medical Approach to Opioid Dependence

Opioid dependence is a disease in which there are biological or physical, psychological, and social changes. Some of the physical changes include the need for increasing amounts of opioid to produce the same effect, symptoms of withdrawal, feelings of craving, and changes in sleep patterns. Psychological components of opioid dependence include a reliance on narcotics (opioids) such as Vicodin or OxyContin to help you cope with everyday problems or inability to feel good or celebrate without using narcotics. The social components of opioid dependence include less frequent contact with important people in your life, and an inability to participate in important events due to drug use. In extreme cases, there may even be criminal and legal implications

The hallmarks of opioid dependence are the continued use of drugs despite their negative affect, the need for increasing amounts of opioids to have the same effect and the development of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

There are a variety of factors than can contribute to the continued use of opioids. Among these are the use of heroin to escape from or cope with problems, the need to use increasing amounts of heroin to achieve the same effect, and the need for a “high.”  According to NIH, 60% to 70% of substance abuse is a result of genetic factors. Salugen's integrative approach considers all of these factors and treats them accordingly.

 

Salugen NESP - The Salugen System Medical Detox Program

Treatment for opioid dependence is best considered a long-term process. Recovery from opioid dependence is not an easy or painless process, as it involves changes in drug use and lifestyle, such as adopting new coping skills. Recovery can involve hard work, commitment, discipline, and a willingness to examine the effects of opioid dependence on your life. At first, it isn’t unusual to feel impatient, angry, or frustrated.

The changes you need to make will depend on how opioid dependence has specifically affected your life. The following are some of the common areas of change to think about when developing your specific recovery plan:

Physical – good nutrition, exercise, sleep and relaxation.

Emotional – learning to cope with feelings, problems, stresses and negative thinking without relying on opioids.

Social – developing relationships with sober people, learning to resist pressures from others to use or misuse substances, and developing healthy social and leisure interests to occupy your time and give you a sense of satisfaction and pleasure.

Family – examining the impact opioid dependence has had on your family, encouraging them to get involved in your treatment, mending relationships with family members, and working hard to have mutually satisfying relationships with family members.

Spiritual – learning to listen to your inner voice for support and strength, and using that voice to guide you in developing a renewed sense of purpose and meaning.

During the treatment process, SUBOXONE/SUBUTEX will help you avoid many or all of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal. These typically include craving, restlessness, poor sleep, irritability, yawning, muscle cramps, runny nose, tearing, goose-flesh, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Your doctor may prescribe other medications for you as necessary to help relieve these symptoms.

You should be careful not to respond to these withdrawal symptoms by losing patience with the treatment process and thinking that the symptoms can only be corrected by using drugs. To help you deal with the symptoms of withdrawal, you should try to set small goals and work towards them..

 

Medical Nutrition

The HAVEOS Anti-Craving program involves Salugen’s patent-protected, clinically proven, all-natural anti-craving ingredient complex. The prescription HAVEOS Anti-Craving Program begins with a two-day intravenous therapy, followed by a month long medical nutrition program involving sublingual, chewable and powder forms of therapy. It is a 3rd generation, all-natural dopamine neuronal-release promoter improving upon earlier iterations of the research such as SAAVE, PhenCal, and synaptamine. It contains certain targeted amino acids, a Vitamin B complex, and certain herbs formulated and clinically studied to optimize brain reward chemistry.* Salugen’s Medical Nutrition is administered by prescription during the first three months of therapy and then can be administered in an over the counter program for maintenance. Salugen’s medical nutrition program and tests are components to its detox program.

The following are published studies supporting the Salugen Medical Nutrition program:

• In a double-blind placebo controlled study of the 1st generation HAVEOS product, it demonstrated statistically significant reductions in cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and drug usage.1

• In an open, observational trial of 600 patients of a 2nd generation HAVEOS product, it demonstrated a 73% reduction in cravings.2

• In an open, observational study in the Las Vegas criminal justice system, a 2nd generation HAVEOS product demonstrated efficacy in reducing substance abuse, with efficacy in alcoholics reaching 93%.3

• In a 90-day placebo-controlled trial of 27 subjects in a medically-supervised clinic taking Opti-Fast, subjects taking an earlier version of HAVEOS lost 2.7 times the weight (26.96 lbs v. 10 lbs.) and had a much lower relapse rate (18.2% v. 81.8%).4

• In a 2-year prospective placebo-controlled study of 247 outpatients in a medically-supervised weight loss clinic taking Opti-Fast, the intervention group showed a 2X decrease in percent overweight; a 70% decrease in food cravings; a 66% decrease in binge eating; and had a much lower relapse rate (14.7% versus 41.7%).5

1 Blum, K. Trachtenberg, M.C. Elliott, C.E. Dingler, M.L. Sexton, R.L. Samuels, A.I. and Cataldie, L. Enkephalinase inhibition and precursor amino acid loading improves inpatient treatment of alcohol and poly drug abusers: Double blind placebo controlled study of the nutritional adjunct SAAVE Alcohol 5:481 493, 1988.

2 Blum K, Chen TJH, Downs BW, Meshkin B, Blum SH, Martinez Pons M, Mengucci JF, Waite RL, Arcuri V, Varshofsiky M, Braverman ER. Synaptamine (SG8839) An Amino-Acid Enkephalinase Inhibition Nutraceutical Improves Recovery of Alcoholics, A Subtype of Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). Trends in App Sci Res. 2 (2): 132-138, 2007.

3 Chen TJ, Blum K, Waite RL, Meshkin B, Schoolfield J, Downs BW, Braverman EE, Arcuri V, Varshavskiy M, Blum SH, Mengucci J, Reuben C,Palomo T. Gene narcotic attenuation program attenuates substance use disorder, a clinical subtype of reward deficiency syndrome. Adv Ther. 2007 Mar-Apr;24(2):402-14.

4 Blum K, Trachtenberg MC, et al. Neuronutrient effects on weight loss in carbohydrate bingers: an open clinical trial. Curr Ther Res. 48: 217-233 1990.

5 Blum K, Cull JG, Chen TJH, Garcia-Swan S, Holder JM, Wood R, Braverman ER, Bucci LR, Trachtenberg MC. Clinical evidence for Phencal in maintaining weight loss in an open –label, controlled 2-year study. Curr Ther Res 58: 745-763.1997