Kû Aloha Ola Mau
A place of healing and recovery

Medical Section

Medical Director’s Notes on Addiction

How is addiction defined? When we are speaking of drug use (opioids or Heroin) addiction is characterized by:

• Adverse consequences in the users life due to the use of the drug.
• Loss of control over use of the drug.
• Preoccupation with obtaining opioids despite the presence of adequate pain relief.
• The individual will not actively address addiction recovery.

Pseudo addiction, on the other hand, is defined as a type of behavior on the part of the user wherein their pain is not adequately controlled and they appear to be inappropriately seeking drugs (opioids) and when adequate pain control is achieved – the individual reverts to normal, appropriate behavior and that distinguishes it from addiction.

Substance Dependence is distinguished from addiction by the following criteria, a pattern of substance use leading to significant impairment or distress as manifested by 3 or more of the following occurring at any time in the same 12 month period:

1. Tolerance (need more of the drug to get high or to achieve the desired effect).
2. Withdrawal as manifested by the following:
   • Dysphoric mood (just not feeling well)
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Muscle aches
   • Lacrimation or rhinorrhea
   • Pupil dilation, goose bumps, or sweating
   • Diarrhea
   • Yawning
   • Fever with insomnia
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.
4. There is persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use.
5. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance or recover from its effects.
6. Important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge that having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem is likely to have been caused or made worse by the substance.

Letter from the Medical Director

Kû Aloha’s philosophy is that all of us, every human being, is precious no matter what is happening in our lives at the present time.

I recall with fondness something that drives home this point from my earlier life when I used to help mothers to deliver their newborns. I helped this mother deliver her baby and unfortunately, the baby had a hare lip and a cleft palate, so for the average person it wasn’t too pleasant to look at baby’s face.

Mother had been under the influence of sedation during the actual delivery. I was very concerned about mother’s reaction to this terrible congenital defect. So after mother was comfortable in her post-partum bed and alert and coherent, I carried her baby in for her to hold and view. I will never forget what she said after looking at baby (It was a girl). She said, “Isn’t she beautiful”. Now that is profound. The point of this story is – we are all precious and that is Kû Aloha’s official policy and belief and we practice that with all of our Haumana.

Sincerely,

Dr. George Rourke