While we wish it weren't so, there is no easy cure for opioid dependency. Unfortunately, in the face of our nation's opioid epidemic, numerous opportunistic entities have turned up attempting to market items that offer a fast repair to this chronic illness. Following a rise in the online marketing of fraudulent " wonder remedies" for opioid withdrawal and addiction, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) partnered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put these misleading and manipulative online marketers on notification. To learn more, we consulted with Mamie Kresses, a senior lawyer in the FTC's Department of Marketing Practices.

The National Center on Dependency and Drug Abuse (CASA): What are the so-called "miracle remedies" for opioid dependency being marketed online?

Mamie Kresses (MK): We have actually seen a lot of advertising of products that declare to either deal with the signs of withdrawal and/or to help individuals overcome their addiction long-term. Many of these products are vitamins, minerals, or organic blends that declare to help you survive withdrawal, and by virtue of doing that, help you kick your reliance more permanently.

CASA: Is there any fact to the claims these items make?

MK: We have actually worked with professionals in the field of dependency medication and they have told us there is no evidence that these herbal blends will help you overcome the signs of withdrawal and there is certainly no evidence they will help you overcome addiction.

CASA: What is the harm in these items?

MK: Bypassing the chance to get a proven treatment, such as medication-assisted treatment, for something that is totally untried and unverified is a lost chance genuine aid and is potentially harmful. You can not advertise a product unless it has been tested in a proficient and dependable clinical style. Specifically a item declaring to deal with a severe illness such as opioid use disorder.

CASA: What are you doing to help stop this deceptive advertising?

MK: In a joint job between the FTC and FDA, we have sent out alerting letters to 11 business our company believe are marketing unverified treatments for opioid addiction. We hope the impact of these letters is to get these advertisements removed and these products off the market and to lower the clutter for those who are trying to find real aid. The FTC likewise partnered with Compound Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to publicize hotline resources for seeking respectable treatment choices across the country.

CASA: Have you heard back from any of the companies that got letters?

MK: Yes, we have gotten reactions. We are continuing to keep an eye on that space and have seen numerous deceptive claims gotten rid of from the web. Definitely not all of them, however I think you would also discover that if you were to look for the items, a few of them are no longer offered for sale. I believe there has actually been a movement based upon the letters to correct the market in some concerns.

To find out more about avoiding items misleadingly promoted as treatments for opioid withdrawal or dependency, inspect out this resource created by the FTC in collaboration with SAMHSA: Getting the Right Help best kratom for Opioid Reliance or Withdrawal.

To make a problem about a product making misleading or unverified claims visit the FTC complaint assistant website.

And keep in mind, a cure for addiction does not yet exist, so anything promoted as such is misguiding and dangerous. Dependency is a very complex illness and, although there are interventions and treatments that can reduce the signs and assist people lead regular healthy lives, there is no simple fast repair.