A new cure for alcohol addiction?
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krwhita ...@aol.com (KRWhitaker)
Has anybody ever heard of a company called Cita Biomedical? (web site citabio.com, ticker symbol DTOX) They say they have a cure for alcohol addiction. You stay in a hospital for 3 days while you get three treatments. And then you are done. no withdrawl, no cravings.
Already approved by the FDA.
They don't sell a drug. They administer the treatment only in their clinic. Not widespread yet. Your local hospital can register and become certified as a clinic.
Is this legit? Has anybody ever heard of it?
Ken
"Jill Reichhoff" jrre...@maqs.net
I just went to their website and you state they don't sell a drug, but the treatment is a "medication-oriented approach". No drug? What do you think medications are?
The article I read also states that this treatment can "remove cravings within a day of detoxification, allowing patients to focus on the core issues driving their addictions". Don't be fooled into believing that you can be done with everything when you leave the hospital after the second or third treatment. The really hard work is yet to come.
Sorry, but I think that at least some of the memory of withdrawal is beneficial to recovery. I believe that when we forget the pain that drugs and alcohol has given us, we are more likely to use again.
Guess it would be good for those who would like to try an easier, softer way and those who can financially afford it.
Blue Moon mf...@clara.net
There was once a clinic which claimed a 100% recovery rate... what they failed to do was any follow-ups. Once they did the follow-ups they discovered it was actually a 0% recovery rate.
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Blue Moon Email welcome. mailto:mf...@hotmail.com
"Jill Reichhoff" jrre...@maqs.net
Good Point Blue Moon. Also 100% recovery rate? I think that even a 100% success rate for the treatment only is impossible (if it was true they must have used a very small sample of people) and I do not believe the 100% recovery from drug/alcohol addiction rate. By the way, did they include the people that died from their "treatment" in their recovery rate stats?
Obviously not. Must be nice to not include those who did not respond as expected or desired in statistics.
Please people read about these so called "treatments" before you decide to try them, taking the time is worth your sobriety and you life. Do some research. it may just save your life.
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"unkboy" j.wardenb...@verizon.net
my opinion is, that while there may be effective medical treatments for detoxing and treating some of the physical problems ***ociated with alcoholism, it won't keep you sober. You'll need to make changes in your life. No medical treatment can treat isolation, anger, etc.
I'm for any effective tool that works, but I wouldn't expect to walk into a hospital and walk out 3 days later a changed man with no work to do.
unk ...
theod ...@alphalink.com.au (T)
I accessed Cita Biomedicals web site and read up on what they do. It seems they have some method of inhibiting the desires and cravings for alcohol which is highly successful compared to other methods out there. Using their DNA methods (techniques) they inhibit desires for Alcohol and other drugs they are targeting. Their treatments are relatively inexpensive, work extremely quick and highly effective.
Just because someone has crappy circumstances (be it isolation, anger etc), they do not have to become alcoholics. Alcoholism is not the only outcome of one's misfortunes Unk.
If you walked in and out of a hospital and your body (that includes your Brain) didn't have the desire for alcohol (or whatever other drug is in your system)why do you ***ume that you are doomed for failure.
Good on you Ken for bringing CITA to our attention. Have you any further info on CITA as to what sort of testing has taken place on their techniques?
T
markar ...@hotmail.com (Mark)
I don't think Unkboy is saying that at all is he? The point is that all alcoholics have some or all of these crappy circumstances, not that everyone with these circumstances turns to alcohol. What is the relevance of your comment? If they are not alcoholics then they wouldn't be looking at this treatment anyway -you are not making any sense at all
Blue Moon mf...@clara.net
The point is that once alcoholism exists, removing the physical craving is but a part of the recovery that must take place if long-term abstinence is to be achieved. Yes, it's an important part, but it is not a cure for alcoholism. Treatments are not about preventing alcoholism, they are about removing the physical craving.
If an indivudal can remain sober by this way alone, then by definition they were not alcoholic.
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Blue Moon
"eugene" eugene.har...@ntlworld.com
I just cannot figure out what people mean as "A Cure". If you are alcoholic, there is no cure! When I hear alkies talk about a cure, then I wonder just where they are in their recovery. The suggestion here is that this "Cure" will allow them to drink safely again. This is absolute nonsense! If you are really recovering, some method of having the ability to drink again will not even come into your mind (at least not for more than a fleeting moment anyway). I am now sober for twelve years, I do a lot of voluntary counselling and I can tell you this, I haven't had anything remotely resembling a "craving" for over eleven of those years. I counsel my groups, you are now living a free life. They don't get up every day thinking that they are alcoholic and must struggle through another day. No, they just don't drink and alcohol has no place to play in their lives. There are none of them hoping for miraculous "cures" and they just get on with it. It's like the "cures" for baldness. Build up people's hopes and get their money.
I would beg anyone seriously looking at their dependence, don't hold out false hope. Listen to the old-timers on this group and believe me, there is an unbelievably great life out there, if you are honestly sober (that means in mind and body).
I haven't been on this group for quite some time and I wish you all the best.
Eugene
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All we are saying, is give peace a chance The Beatles
jr ...@citabio.com (Judy Ryon)
Hi Ken, Judy here from CITA Biomedical Inc. The treatment you are talking about is a new treatment for people who are dependent on alcohol, cocaine and/or crack.
It is called "DNA" (Detoxification and NeuroAdaptation). (Not to be confused with DNA of genetics) Addiction is a brain disease and "DNA" treats addiction at the source.
Historically the addiction has been treated only through behavioral modification, but "DNA" treats both the physiological AND psychological aspects of this devastating condition.
Substance abuse impedes normal neural functioning of the brain and body systems as a whole, resulting in cravings, potentially serious or even life-
threatening withdrawal symptoms and damage to the brain. This treatment reduces or eliminates cravings while correcting and regulating the neural functioning.
By providing successful detox and correcting the "chemical" cause of cravings in the brain, this solution reduces the time severity, pain and cost ***ociated withdrawal, so the patient can concentrate on returning to a productive level of functioning in a very short time. The treatments occur over 2 to 3 days and is performed under medical supervision followed by a continuing "after care" program.
As Jill has said, the "issues" in your life don't go away and still need to be handled, but they can be handled "sober" without having to fight with cravings.
Another quite wonderful benefit of the treatment has to do with depression that is often ***ociated with alcoholism. By correcting the chemical condition in the brain that causes the cravings many patients also experience a reversal of their depression. This can be very helpful in getting your life back.
As Eugene has said, this treatment is NOT a license to "drink safely" again.
It does remove the cravings by correcting the chemical condition that causes the cravings.
The relapse rate with the "DNA" treatment is only 20-25% compared with the more than 75% relapse rate for people treated by other means, so no it's not a CURE but certainly a big step in the right direction.
I hope this helps.
Judy Ryon CITA Biomedical Inc jr...@citabio.com
Man_In_The_Mid ...@webtv.net (Arnold Corns)
I am a person with the disease of addiction. I know of no 'cure' other than to remain a non-drinking, non- using person. Although I have been in and out of the twelve step groups of both AA and NA for 20 years, I have only had 5 consequtive years clean, and that 'clean time' was mostly just physical. I have amost 2 months of sobriety now, and realize that if I want to be successful at this at all, I must; 1. get a sponsor amd 2. work the seps i my life..
God I don't feel well at all.
"eugene" eugene.har...@ntlworld.com
Why do you feel unwell? Are you feeling sorry for yourself? Do you think that you would be better off getting into it all again? What is stopping you from getting a sponsor? Your post is way too vague for me or anyone else to maybe communicate and give you something to get a hold of. You have answered part of your dilemma anyway, you need a sponsor and you need a programme to help you. Get back to this group and someone will be able to offer you something. In the meantime, remember any good times or feelings that you experienced in your five year clean spell, and know that they are there again, but only if you want them bad enough. I had twenty years of misery and have now had twelve years of bliss. that is there for everyone if they just work for it, and you know that the end result is worth anything. Keep in touch and you can get there.
Eugene (in Ireland)
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All we are saying, is give peace a chance The Beatles
"eugene" eugene.har...@ntlworld.com
I also think that it is sad and pathetic that you wrote into this group 5 hours ago and no-one has offered any ***istance. I have just come in home, it's almost midnight here. I have been working with a group of recovering alkies since 8.30pm, doing this every Thursday night. tonight was real tough going but everyone got something positive to take home with them.
Eugene
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All we are saying, is give peace a chance The Beatles
"Gail" serenity6850_2...@yahoo.com
Your post is way too vague for me or anyone else to I think you answered your own question to your second post.
Gail You have answered
Charles Riggs chri...@eircom.net
On Thu, 3 Oct 2002 23:54:59 +0100, "eugene" Good going, Eugene, or should we call you Mr Wonderful?
Charles Riggs
"eugene" eugene.har...@ntlworld.com
What's your problem Charles? Why should you call me Mr Wonderful? I was simply stating that this chap hadn't received any response in hours. I just happened to come home after a tough session and there was no way that I wasn't going to offer him something, even if it was only a few lines from many miles away. So you decide to have a pop at me. Get real pal. This fellow is crying for help and I don't see you offering any solace. I have no delusions of grandeur in what I do, I just never turn my back on someone suffering if I have anything to offer. You clearly have a problem with that....well then, it's your problem, not mine.
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All we are saying, is give peace a chance The Beatles
Blue Moon mf...@clara.net
On Thu, 3 Oct 2002 23:54:59 +0100, "eugene" I wasn't aware he was seeking any ***istance, but simply answering his own questions as to what he needs to do.
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Blue Moon
Charles Riggs chri...@eircom.net
On Fri, 4 Oct 2002 09:43:12 +0100, "eugene" Oh, no, you weren't doing anything that simple. You implied that, while we in the group were pathetic, all-wonderful Eugene, tired and over-worked as he was from a long day of helping others (you just had to announce that to us, didn't you?), would charge in to the rescue.
Your rescuing post would, in fact, be of solace to few. Read it again, if you don't believe me. Be sure to check out your opening lines: "Why do you feel unwell?" (This you ask of a practicing alcoholic?) "Are you feeling sorry for yourself?" Now that was helpful.
There you go again -- "many miles away", with the implication that someone posting from across the Atlantic goes to a greater effort than someone from the next county. So you were you up at midnight. Big deal. You protest a bit too much, Mr Knight on a White Horse.
I'm not your pal, Paddy. I'd probably find it unpleasant to pal around with a man having an ego as inflated as yours.
Yes, play the martyr: I can't help others, oh no! You just leave your problems, all you sufferers, at the feet of dear old Eugene -- he turns his back on no-one.
Charles Riggs...In Ireland, as well, as if that mattered in this situation
"eugene" eugene.har...@ntlworld.com
My my, you certainly have an abundance of serenity emanating from you Charles. We obviously got off on the wrong foot and that's too bad. But, different strokes etc.....
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All we are saying, is give peace a chance The Beatles
kickboyb ...@aol.com (Kickboybutt)
attachment to, and ultimately dependency on, the medical ***istance designed to provide only a short-term relief from the physical effects.< I'm curious. I know nothing about this Revia and how long you're supposed to take it. Or whether it's addictive. But aren't a lot of the people we meet in AA dependent on the meetings and emotionally attached to AA?
I've met some who are really "whacked" about the meetings, blowing off family obligations, friends etc for meetings. So how is Revia different? Especially if it's only short term? kbb
Blue Moon mf...@clara.net
Meetings won't damage the brain, risk sending you clinically insane and suffering mental demons, thus causing far more serious distress to the family. Short-term remedies for the symptoms of DTs (such as ativan, valium etc.) do carry this risk if taken longer-term, and are themselves addictive.
As for Revia specifically, I'd point to the following link: http://www.virtualdrugstore.com/alcoholism/naltrexone.html Key elements are that it only addresses the physical metabolism of alcohol consumption. For an alcoholic, addressing the mental/emotional condition is key to preventing relapse, and Revia does nothing to facilitate this and is therefore not a long-term remedy and clearly not a cure for alcoholism. The effect of Revia is also variable from individual to individual, as metabolism rates vary, so it wouldn't even be a "miracle" cure to intoxification. As it deals with metabolism, it could also be affected by things like diet.
There are reports of Revia abuse, indicating the drug itself has some narcotic effect which science doesn't yet understand and should therefore be treated with caution. Taking Revia whilst continuing to drink for the effect alcohol gives could have significant effects on the liver, because the individual would have to drink more to achieve the same effect.
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Blue Moon
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