This document discusses chronic pain and addiction. It summarizes that opioid pain medications can reduce pain signals but also reduce activity in brain regions related to pleasure, dopamine, and serotonin. This can lead to depression and increased pain sensitivity over time. The document also notes that opioid use can suppress hormone production over time, including testosterone and thyroid hormones, worsening associated health issues. Detoxification is presented as a method to correct these issues by preventing adrenaline surges that normally occur with opioid withdrawal.

1. CHRONIC PAIN AND ADDICTION Presented By: Rick Sponaugle, M.D. Board Certified Addictionologist Board Certified Anesthesiologist & Medical Director of Florida Detox ® & Wellness Institute

5. Normal Brain (SPECT Brain scan from Brainplace.com, Dr. Daniel Amen) 7 years Methadone use, some prior Heroin

6. Opiates Reduce Neuronal Interconnections In time-lapse images, treatment with morphine decreased the number of spines (arrows). Courtesy Dezhi Liao , University of Minnesota Liao concluded that while some level of endogenous opioid is needed to keep excitatory neurons healthy, the drug morphine "changes the structure of excitatory synapses. If someone constantly takes morphine, eventually it will damage the brain, change its structure and function,” whyfiles.org/225drug_receptors/images/opiate_receptors.jpg

8. 27 year old female: Oxycontin 300 mg/day

10. PLEASURE CENTER nida.nih.gov/pubs/teaching/Teaching2/Teaching5

11. Low Dopamine D2 Receptor Activity in the Brain’s Pleasure Center Causes Depression Nerve A Nerve B Happy Receptor D 2

14. … Two months after detox, Dr. Sponaugle referred patient to Amen Clinic because medical history positive for severe brain trauma

27. OPIATE INDUCED TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY

28. OPIATE INDUCED TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY

29. OPIATE INDUCED TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY

30. OPIATE INDUCED TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY

37. Florida Detox ® Drug Detoxification