RAOE Foundation

Non-opioid therapy is a therapy with methods of managing pain that does not involve opioids.
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These methods can include, but are not limited to, Acetaminophen(Tylenol) or Ibuprofen(Advil), cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, meditation, exercise, medications for depression or for seizures, or interventional therapies (injections).
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Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are different:
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•Opiates refer to natural opioids such as He**in, Morphine, Codeine and Fentanyl
•Opioids refer to all natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic opioids such as Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Dilaudid and Demerol.
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Preventing overdose death and finding treatment options are the first steps to recovery. Treatment may save a life and can help people struggling with opioid addiction get their lives back on track by allowing them to counteract addiction’s powerful effects on their brain and behavior. The overall goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in their family, workplace, and community.
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Evidence-based approaches to treating opioid addiction include medications and combining medications with behavioral therapy. A recovery plan that includes medication for opioid addiction increases the chance of success.
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Medications used in the treatment of opioid addiction support a person’s recovery by helping to normalize brain chemistry, relieving cravings and in some cases preventing withdrawal symptoms. The choice to include medication as part of recovery is a personal medical decision, but the evidence for medications to support successful recovery is strong.
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Death rates from drug overdose reported by CDC publicly since 1999 to 2021​:
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•In year 1999 roughly 4,000 young American died​
•In year 2005 roughly 14,000 young American died​
•In year 2011 roughly 32,000 young American died​
•In year 2015 roughly 54,000 young American died​
•In year 2016 roughly 62,000 young American died​
•In year 2017 roughly 72,237 young American died​
•In year 2020 roughly 83,000 young American died ​
•In year 2020 roughly 87,000 young American died ​
•In year 2021 roughly 104,000 young American died
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