'Health Dimensions' Radio Show (KPTK/AM) Targets Opioid Addiction and Treatment in Month-Long Series

'Health Dimensions' Radio Show (KPTK/AM) Targets Opioid Addiction and Treatment in Month-Long Series

-- Opioid fatalities in King County rose 44% over past decade and now comprise

64% of all overdose deaths --

Opioid addiction in Seattle and the surrounding area is a growing public health concern that affects people from all walks of life. According to recent government reports, the number of people in King County who died as a result of an opioid overdose (oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, or heroin) rose 44% over the last ten years. In 2005, the last year for which data are available, 329 King County residents died of opioid overdoses, 64% of all overdose deaths in the region. The Seattle area's problems reflect a national public health crisis - according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2006), published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 4.7 million teens and adults nationwide reported using prescription opioid painkillers for nonmedical purposes. An estimated 1.5 million more Americans abuse heroin.

Local physician and addiction specialist Dr. Michael Schiesser is working to educate Seattle residents to the danger of misusing opioids, and of a medical treatment that can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor's office to help patients into long-term recovery. "Health Dimensions," a radio talk show that Dr. Schiesser hosts on KPTK/AM, is focusing during June on opioid dependence and its treatment with Suboxone, an office-based medical treatment. Co-host Dr. Amy Lazar is also trained in addiction medicine.

About "Health Dimensions"

"Health Dimensions" is a weekly live radio show focused on cutting-edge specialty areas and general health that airs Saturday mornings from 6 - 7 a.m. PT on KPTK AM-1060 in Seattle. All shows are archived at http://www.am1090seattle.com/pages/427671.php.

The show's host, Dr. Michael Schiesser, is a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist trained to treat opioid dependence. He has received numerous awards, including being named one of Seattle's "Best Doctors" by Seattle Magazine (1994). Co-host Dr. Amy Lazar is a child and adolescent psychiatrist trained in the treatment of opioid dependence.

"Health Dimensions" is supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, Inc., marketer of Suboxone.

Resources for Opioid Dependence and Its Treatment

Information about opioid dependence and its treatment is available from several sources. Free educational Resource Kits on this topic can be obtained from turntohelp.com or by calling 1-866-455-TURN, both provided by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals. Turntohelp.com also offers customized information to individuals as well as a physician locator designed to help people find an area doctor available to prescribe buprenorphine.

Additionally, the non-profit patient advocacy group NAABT - National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment - provides extensive information on opioid dependence and its treatment in a private doctor's office; NAABT also offers a nationwide confidential matching service to pair individuals seeking buprenorphine treatment with available doctors; visit naabt.org. SAMHSA's Web site also provides a physician locator and other valuable information at buprenorphine.samhsa.gov.

About Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that markets Suboxone(R) (buprenorphine HCl/naloxone HCl dihydrate [2 mg/0.5 mg and 8 mg/2 mg]) C-III Sublingual Tablets and Subutex(R) (buprenorphine HCl [2 mg and 8 mg]) C-III Sublingual Tablets, formulations of buprenorphine used to treat opioid dependence in a medical office-based setting. Suboxone and Subutex, manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare Ltd., are the only controlled medications under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 approved by the FDA for office-based treatment of opioid dependence. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. is committed to expanding access to medical therapies for patients suffering from the chronic, relapsing brain disease of opioid dependence. For more information, visit suboxone.com or opioiddependence.com. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser PLC, a publicly traded UK firm.

Important Safety Information

Intravenous use of buprenorphine, usually in combination with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants has been associated with significant respiratory depression and death. Suboxone(R) and Subutex(R) have potential for abuse and produces dependence of the opioid type with a milder withdrawal syndrome than full agonists. Cytolytic hepatitis and hepatitis with jaundice have been observed in the addicted population receiving buprenorphine. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Suboxone or Subutex (a pregnancy category C medication) in pregnancy. Due caution should be exercised when driving cars or operating machinery. The most commonly reported adverse events with Suboxone have included headache (36%, placebo 22%), withdrawal syndrome (25%, placebo 37%), pain (22%, placebo 19%), nausea (15%, placebo 11%), insomnia (14%, placebo 16%), sweating (14%, placebo 10%). See full prescribing information for complete information at suboxone.com.

Suboxone and Subutex are registered trademarks of Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare Ltd.

Contact Information:
Thomas Keane
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
(617) 761-6795
thomas.keane@fkhealth.com

PRNewswire -- June 7
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Web site: http://www.am1090seattle.com/pages/427671.php
http://www.turntohelp.com/
http://www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/
http://www.naabt.org/
http://www.suboxone.com/
http://www.opioiddependence.com/

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