Soft Landing Recovery One of the First in Illinois to Offer Breakthrough Opioid Treatment Option

CHICAGO, IL (DECEMBER 2016) – A new buprenorphine implant for the treatment of opioid dependence, recently approved by the FDA, is now available in Illinois for patients seeking new and innovative medication-assisted treatment options. Soft Landing Recovery (SLR), a federally-regulated and state-licensed Opioid Treatment Program with locations in Naperville, Des Plaines, Highland Park and Chicago (opening January 2017), is one of a select few places in Illinois with doctors trained and ready to prescribe and perform the Probuphine implant procedure.

Probuphine, manufactured by Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, is the first implant designed to provide patients a constant, long-acting dose of buprenorphine. Probuphine is not a first line of defense; it is prescribed for those who are already undergoing treatment and monitoring and are stable on low-to-moderate doses of other forms of buprenorphine, such as Suboxone. At SLR, patients are started on a therapeutic dose of oral buprenorphine, and slowly titrated down over a period of three to 24 months, depending on each patient’s individual needs and preferences. Once a patient is clinically stable on oral medication and progressing in his or her recovery, Probuphine may be used to replace the daily regimen of pill or film, offering patients the benefits of buprenorphine without the need for daily medication or frequent office visits.

“SLR is all about providing our patients with effective options, or tools, to support their recovery efforts. Adding Probuphine to our treatment ‘menu’ is consistent with this commitment,” says SLR’s Regional Executive Director, Paul Getzendanner, JD, LCSW, CADC. “If something comes along that shows promise, SLR wasn't to make it available to our patients, whether that’s a new buprenorphine-delivery mechanism like Probuphine, or another evidence-based approach to treating addiction.”

Implanted in the shoulder area, Probuphine releases a consistent low dose of buprenorphine over a six-month period. This outpatient surgical procedure, while virtually painless, is fairly sophisticated and requires physician training and certification by the manufacturer. “Unlike a Vivitrol injection, this is not a procedure most addiction treatment providers are willing or able to offer,” notes Getzendanner. “Since SLR integrates behavioral health and medical treatment, and have so many well-qualified doctors and nurses on staff, we are in a unique position to prescribe and begin performing implants.”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), medication-assisted therapy, particularly in the context of behavioral treatment and recovery support, is far more successful at preventing relapse and improving patient outcomes than short-term detoxification programs with no medication follow-up. Multiple clinical trials have affirmed that Probuphine, in particular, is both safe and effective for treating opioid dependence. NIDA, which has called Probuphine a potential “game-changer” in addiction treatment, urges broader use of buprenorphine, in all its forms, as part of a comprehensive, biopsychosocial treatment approach. SLR’s physicians are eager to expand the treatment options for people suffering from opioid-use disorders.

“I’m excited about the new buprenorphine implant because I believe it is more versatile and convenient to fit each patient’s needs, whether they’re a busy student or working parent, they won’t need to come in for medication but would still come for their therapy on their schedule,” says Dr. Dora Dixie, Medical Director of SLR’s Des Plaines facility and one of several SLR doctors certified to perform the implant procedure. “I also believe the new implant will help minimize or extinguish drug cravings and help break the cycle of addiction, adding protection at a time when some patients are particularly vulnerable, as they transition off of Suboxone into medication-free recovery,” Dixie continues. “With the implant, drug seeking is staying off the table. Patients don't have to remember to take their medicine; they just need to focus on staying sober and getting better in their environment.”

Dr. Mark Shukhman, a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist at SLR’s Highland Park facility, believes the implant can be of particular benefit to people who become dependent on pain medications. “In my practice, I see a lot of patients who did not have any history of drug abuse prior to an exposure to pain medications following an injury or surgery. Initially, because of the pain, later, because of the symptoms of withdrawal, these patients developed a habit to take medications around the clock. Just having a pill in their mouth already makes them feel better. Having an implant that releases an opioid into their blood constantly for six months can help these individuals unlearn this habit and eventually become drug-free.”

Dr. Shukhman also believes that the implant can help to achieve some results that were difficult to achieve before. He says, “I believe the implant can help some of my patients become opioid free, which for most is the ultimate yet difficult to obtain goal. Six months after the insertion of the implant, the amount of the medication delivered by the pellet will start declining. This might serve as a slow and better tolerated tapering process, which was not available before we had this new tool, and could significantly reduce the risks of relapse.”

“Probuphine provides a new treatment option for people in the latter stages of medication-assisted treatment, adding convenience and for some, serving as a bridge between Suboxone and Vivitrol,” observes Dr. Abdel Fahmy, SLR’s founder and Chief Medical Officer. “When used as part of a recovery program that includes counseling, it has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. As a result, SLR is looking forward to be one of the first providers in Illinois to offer this option to our patients.”

ABOUT SOFT LANDING RECOVERY
SLR is an innovative physician-driven drug treatment facility that first opened in DuPage County in 2007. As a SAMHSA-certified and CARF-accredited Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), SLR is one of only a handful of facilities in Illinois offering ambulatory detoxification and is among the first to integrate the medical and behavioral aspects of patient care in a harmonious and collaborative model.
SLR is licensed by Illinois’ Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and is a member of the Lake County Opioid Initiative and Chicago Opioid Abuse Taskforce.
SLR counselors are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no waiting list and physicians are on call 24/7. Same-day appointments and walk-ins are welcome.

The public is encouraged to call Soft Landing Recovery’s confidential hotline for a free, 15-minute phone consultation to discuss how they can help break the cycle of addiction: Toll-Free 1-888-782-6966; Highland Park 847-813-2559; Naperville 630-261-9220; Des Plaines 847-813-2558.