Dr Waismann's Mission

In this age of violence, when death is often viewed as a legitimate commodity, when policies on management of famine, terror, diseases and ignorance are determined by political lobbies, when one person’s tragedy becomes another’s evening of entertainment, we must seek grace and find a place where each one of us can still make a difference.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from Opiate Dependency. Too often society condemns them for crimes they are not responsible for, and moral prejudice together with theories about addictive personalities prevent these people from obtaining the medical care they urgently need.

Opiate abuse is widespread with no effective available treatment. Its victims are not viewed as patients, but more usually - as outlaws. Society has pushed them to the gutters and the dark alleys of life, in an attempt to protect itself from them. The solution has been addictive opiate replacements and long term isolation from society. Rehabilitation centers around the world offer sufferers of opiate dependency a treatment that involves a long tormenting withdrawal syndrome which is bad enough but to make it worse, this withdrawal syndrome is followed by biologically-rooted craving.

Failing to provide a better solution, the suffering is justified for its so-called "therapeutic value". This process prevents patients from seeking treatment, and among those who do seek treatment, many drop out. Worse of all, is that the minority that does complete the treatment is likely to relapse and as a result is more reluctant to seek treatment again.

Opiate Dependency requires professional medical care. Unfortunately, it has been treated by social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and law enforcement personnel. However, times have changed, and Opiate Dependency has finally been recognized as a central nervous system disorder caused by continuous opiate intake. Therefore, we must not judge, punish, or morally confront those with Opiate Dependency, but provide them with the appropriate medical attention, they urgently need to reverse the withdrawal and its cravings.