To: Dr. Sponaugle
From: Dean Morrison
Date: 07-01-08

For over 15 years, I have struggled with cocaine abuse. The time finally came that I realized that a change in my life was needed. The world of drugs and drug abuse was taking a toll on my body, mind and soul. I researched many treatment options and treatment centers. Many of the treatment centers seemed to be carbon copies of each other. They promoted tennis courts, art classes and mountain cabins, but seemed to be lacking real treatment options that would help me. Then I came across Florida Detox and decided that I would attend the seminar that is offered. The seminar was informative. Your explanation of brain chemistry and its function was detailed and easy to understand. One week later I started treatment at Florida Detox.

While I was undergoing inpatient detox treatment for cocaine abuse at Florida Detox, I became acquainted with many of the opiate treatment patients. We were involved in long, in depth conversations.

Before the detox treatment began, many of the conversations included talk of opiate withdrawal and the overwhelming craving that the opiate users go through. These conversations opened my eyes to the suffering the addiction is putting opiate users through. Most of the opiate users I spoke with commented that the main reason they continued to abuse the opiates was to avoid being “dope sick”. I was told that the withdrawal process an opiate user endures could be horrific for the user and everyone around them. One opiate detox patient described “dope sickness” as a “hellish nightmare that made that person feel that they would rather die then go through they physical and emotional pain of withdrawal”.

About 48 hours after the opiate detox treatment was administered to the opiate users, we were able to continue our conversations. Most of my fellow patients commented that the craving was no longer prevalent. They also commented that they did not experience the horrific physical withdrawal symptoms that the drug can place on the user. Many looked forward to living without opiates and started to plan on how to stay away from the drug world they formally were part of. Our conversations were filled with optimism and hope, much different then the conversations before the detox treatment began.

After being diagnosed with ADD, my treatment was simple and painless. Two hours after my detox treatment started, it was as if a switch was turned off in my brain. The craving for cocaine was turned off and I felt no withdrawal symptoms at all. Because of the treatment that I received, I have not, nor will I ever, use cocaine again to self medicate. Florida Detox gave me the chance to take back my life and I would like to thank you and the staff. I would like to give a special thanks to the nursing staff on the 7th floor. They are a special group of people on a special mission.

Thanks again,

Dean Morrison