Thousands of people have surgery and end up in a place they never imagined.
Dr. Cheryl Karcher was a healthy person, leading an active lifestyle. She required three ACL replacements and total surgery replacement. She was prescribed percocet after each surgery for the pain. The drug also made her feel all was right in the world. She wanted to feel that way all the time.
Dr. Karcher fought her opioid addiction and is now practicing medicine again. She was arrested for prescription fraud committed by a staff member two years after she had recovered from the addiction. She was clean and helping others recover. She believed in herself and had nothing to hide.
Dr. Karcher was already in the public eye. She decided to use the opportunity to shed light on opioid addiction in order to help others.
In vulnerable brains, this drug ignites the reward center. It builds a craving for the good feelings one gets from the medication.
No one chooses to become an addict. Many people make it out to be a moral issue. Addiction isn’t a matter of self-control. If it could be tackled by the individual alone, then addiction wouldn’t be a problem.
It’s important to get help. The sooner one gets help, the easier it is. There are plenty of excuses to not stop today. Enlisting help eases the struggle when you can’t stop by yourself.
It’s tough to recognize your own addiction if your life doesn’t mirror the addict’s life in movies. Don’t be ashamed or feel guilty by asking for help. There is hope.
Listen in as Dr. Karcher shares her incredible story of addiction and recovery.
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Women & Opioid Addiction: One Doctor’s Personal Recovery Journey
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Dr. Cheryl Karcher, a board certified dermatologist, is globally recognized as an expert in aesthetic medicine. She has been a practicing dermatologist for more than two decades and currently practices at her private office located at 1060 Fifth Ave/1 East 87th Street in New York City and at Sadick Dermatology at 911 Park Avenue in New York City. She has an extensive educational background that includes medical and advanced training in dermatology from New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center and New York University Medical Center. In addition to her medical degrees, Dr. Karcher holds a Masters of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Florida and was trained in Human Metabolism as a fellow at Rockefeller University.
Articles detailing the results of Dr. Karcher’s research have been published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. She has also been featured on television shows such as The View, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, CNN, Rachel Ray, CBS and Fox News, included in most magazines including Vogue, W, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and newspapers including the New York Times.
Dr. Karcher treats all types of skin conditions, including acne, skin cancers, melasma, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Dr. Karcher offers her patients a wide range of cosmetic services. She specializes in improving skin wrinkles, volume loss, problems with texture, dark spots, red spots, dilated blood vessels, excess fat and hair loss.
Cheryl Karcher, MD
Dr. Cheryl Karcher, a board certified dermatologist, is globally recognized as an expert in aesthetic medicine. She has been a practicing dermatologist for more than two decades and currently practices at her private office located at 1060 Fifth Ave/1 East 87th Street in New York City and at Sadick Dermatology at 911 Park Avenue in New York City. She has an extensive educational background that includes medical and advanced training in dermatology from New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center and New York University Medical Center. In addition to her medical degrees, Dr. Karcher holds a Masters of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Florida and was trained in Human Metabolism as a fellow at Rockefeller University.Articles detailing the results of Dr. Karcher’s research have been published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. She has also been featured on television shows such as The View, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, CNN, Rachel Ray, CBS and Fox News, included in most magazines including Vogue, W, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and newspapers including the New York Times.
Dr. Karcher treats all types of skin conditions, including acne, skin cancers, melasma, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Dr. Karcher offers her patients a wide range of cosmetic services. She specializes in improving skin wrinkles, volume loss, problems with texture, dark spots, red spots, dilated blood vessels, excess fat and hair loss.