Celebrity Overdose Is A Cue For Change

Three months out of rehab, “Glee” star Cory Monteith’s fatal overdose is a tragic reminder that we need to reevaluate rehab

Image from: PopSugar.com

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The issue

Addiction to heroin and other opiates has skyrocketed in recent years. And out of the 21 million Americans who need substance abuse treatment, less than 1 percent are actually getting it. Expanding our healthcare system with the Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction, but let's think about this: Monteith had rehab. Winehouse had rehab. Lohan has been to rehab. 6 times. Providing access to care is a huge part of it, but since we officially changed the classification of addiction to a disease 2 years ago, why haven't we changed how we treat it?

disease /dis·ease/ (dĭ-zēz´) any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system

This image compares the brain function in ABSTINENT heroin users - as in, not currently high or on heroin - to the brain function in drug-free subjects.

Drugs physically change your brain and how it works, even if you're not high. Patients literally operating on a modified server are expected to run on outdated wiring.

A student generally requires a minimum 3 months of instruction to learn a new subject. Even the Christian God asks for 6 weeks of abstinence in Lent. How can we possibly believe years, decades, of brain alteration can be undone in 30 days?

My heart goes out to Monteith and his loved ones. Those who knew him have described him as a loving, generous guy, and it is difficult to think of the internal struggle with addiction he dealt with behind the scenes. Here's to hoping something better comes along that will help future addicts manage their disease and get their lives back.