A new medical device offers a promising future to those battling the withdrawal symptoms of opioid addiction.

For those in the throes of opioid withdrawal, it’s hard to even get out of bed.

“One of the biggest fears of someone getting clean is actually going through this withdrawal," Director of Gates to Recovery David Attridge said. "It’s the worst thing you can possibly go through in your life. Your entire body aches. You want to die, you’re not going to, but you want to.”

So when Attridge heard of The NeuroStim’s Bridge — a device that could help — he immediately got involved.

“Basically I followed their studies, I went their studies and worked with that," Attridge said. "And I asked them to be able to bring into the East Coast here.”

A young woman who didn’t want to be identified is only the third person in the area to receive the device, battling addiction for nine years.

“It started with pills. And then heroin, coke and then other stuff along the way,” she said.

Before the procedure, she could barely talk. But not even half an hour after...

“When I first heard of it, I thought it was too good to be true. But it’s not," she said. "It’s actually helping people, and I think that’s awesome.”

So how does it work?

“It’s a little like acupuncture. It’s a device that has a battery in it, it’ll stay on for five days," Attridge said. "There’s some wires that come down and they’re bundling up some nerves.”

It then sends electric signals telling the brain it is no longer going through withdrawal. And after the device is removed, recovery can begin unhindered.

“This is going to follow up with an addiction program, with a mental health program," Attridge said. "So she begins that whole journey of recovery.”

The device and install costs $1,000, but is still cheaper than other medical alternatives.

Attridge encourages anyone who wants information or access to the device to call their 24/7 line at 585-310-4080.

“It’s a miracle piece, as far as I’m concerned," Attridge said. "I’ve seen many people go through withdrawal, medical or not medical, but to see this, and see the results within 30 minutes is amazing.”