West Des Moines Clinic Aims to Stem Addiction to Painkillers

Harbor View Medical, a new specialty clinic aimed at curbing addiction to prescription painkillers – something physicians say can occur as soon as three days after starting medication – opened Wednesday in West Des Moines

Located at 1300 37th St., Suite 1, Harbor View Medical was founded by Michael Vasquez, who in 2006 founded St. Gregory Retreat Center, a Central Iowa detoxification and addiction treatment facility that has gained a national clientele, the Des Moines Business Record reported.

Vasquez will serve as CEO of the clinic, which will initially be staffed by three physicians and a nurse practitioner, as well as tap into counselors and other resources at the St. Gregory Center.

Dr. Brad Archer, chief medical officer of the clinic, said at a news conference Tuesday that the potential for physical dependence upon prescription painkillers is nearly 100 percent after as little as three days of use.

"That's why we've developed the Comprehensive Cognitive Health Evaluation to provide a brief intervention for the patient to validate the need to continue any potentially abusive prescription medication," he said.

According to U.S. Drug Enforcement data, the powerful painkiller hydrocodone is the most commonly abused controlled substance in the United States. In Iowa, 72 million doses of hydrocodone were prescribed in 2010, making it the most-prescribed drug in the state, the Business Record report said.

"The challenge for all of us – the medical community, government regulatory agencies and families – is very significant," U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said during the news conference. "How do you balance the need to treat severe chronic pain with (drugs that have) a high potential for abuse?"

Gov. Terry Branstad said that in 2000, four deaths in Iowa were the result of prescription drug abuse. By 2010, that number had grown to 39.

"Increasing the quality of outcomes for patients takes coordination between many health-care professionals," Branstad said. "The need for Harbor View to do this work is undeniable. I think we're really fortunate to have this pioneer effort go on here."