Prometa and Peizer’s Promethean Promise

In Prometheus Chained, the wily titan Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gifted it to humankind. If Terren Peizer’s drug Prometa is the real deal, this cure for addiction would be an equal gift of monumental scale. Peizer, doctors, and even patients claim the cure which is actually a regimen of three drugs that were already FDA approved will instantly eliminate cravings for those addicted to alcohol, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Unfortunately, last night’s 60 Minutes segment made clear that almost everyone singing Prometa’s praise is also on their payroll or owns stock.

Peizer has made a living dealing in junk bonds; he is not a recovery advocate or a doctor. But he put on a good show with his “heartfelt” tears of joy and his rationalization for rushing the drug to market before testing claiming he could save lives NOW! The tears came too easy if you ask me, like these were tears that were part of his pitch that raised over $150 million to fund Hythiam which markets Prometa. In fact market is a very good word to use here, since Peizer made it very clear that they were not a pharmaceutical company and that doctors were responsible for prescribing Prometa. Almost everything about Prometa seems a little shaky; no independent testing, no long term data, and a company that markets the product but doesn’t stand behind it!

Those who suffer from addictions and their families are desperate for help, and even at $15,000 Prometa sounds like a miracle. Sheep ready to be shorn. My advice is do some research before you lay down good money on this product. My investigation turned up questionable testimonies, inconclusive data, and small print that makes caveat emptor sound like an iron clad warranty. My guess is that in a few years that either Peizer will be out of the country, or end up like Prometheus, in chains and bound for eternity.