Methadone Drug Addiction .com

I have a friend who has finally decided to get herself treated for her heroin addiction. I've heard a lot of good things about buprenorphine as a detox option, but I know that a lot of people are still banking on methadone as a good way of detoxing. I just want to know the disadvantages of using methadone so that I can warn my friend as well as help her in making a decision.

Methadone does help opiate dependent persons to stop abusing drugs by decreasing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, using methadone does have its own disadvantages. Due to the fact that methadone can only be administered in licensed methadone treatment clinics, the patients must deal with making daily trips to a methadone clinic. These clinics are mostly located in or near urban centers, so driving long distances happens to be part of the daily routine of patients in rural areas. Another disadvantage to using methadone is the fact that it can also lead to addiction. Methadone abuse is increasing in the Northeast region, and can result to overdose deaths.

2007-09-05 22:43:51 by cinthia cb

Methadone Addiction Becoming Major Problem, how many more have to die? for more information about very addictive drugs and a possible solution ...

The withdrawals from methadone addiction take 3 times longer than for heroin (3 weeks against 5 days), and are more painful. I suspect that methadone is preferred simply because it does not give such an intense high as heroin. The medical profession seem to think that getting their patients hooked on a much worse drug is acceptable just as long as no one actually gets high.

Perhaps their interests are more puritanical than medical.
The responses so far seem to miss the point - I am commenting on the hypocrisy of prescribing something more dangerous (methadone) to 'treat' a something less dangerous (heroin), for reasons of moral convenience (no high to get guilty about, and easier maintenance). Isn't this simply unethical? One of the basic tenets of the hyppocratic oath is: "above all, do no harm". This gets conveniently forgotten about when dealing with what society deems "self inflicted" problems such as addiction.

Yes I agree but think they prescribe it because they can monitor the patients intake (not that it works though)

2007-07-01 08:04:43 by zed hex

Price: $149.95

It works wonderfully for my herion addiction and I don't want to go off of it since I know I'd immediately start using again. So many people consider it a "heroin substitute". However, I DO NOT get high on it and it is medically controlled so when taken correctly, there is little risk of an overdose. Not to mention all the awful things that go along with heroin addiction like the risk of contaminated needles, drugs laced with deadly substances, doing illegal things to get your "fix", and the fact that you will eventually end up dead or in prison. The problem is that I still have problems with alcohol and cocaine and methadone DOESN'T help with those addictions. I want to get help for all my substance problems but almost all rehabs are VERY AGAINST Methadone. I don't want to be on Methadone the rest of my life. I will eventually wean myself off (VERY SLOWLY) so that I don't get sick (it is addictive like heroin). Any thoughts about this? Please be kind. This is rough!

I'm not really sure if you can mix it with the methadone or not but Revia (Naltrexone) can help with the cravings for both opiates and alcohol. You may want to ask the clinic where you get the methadone.

And go to an NA and AA meeting. You can find local meetings at www.aa.org and www.na.org

One day at a time.

2007-10-04 18:45:36 by jessica

Wouldn't people get addicted to methadone too? I know people started out believing that heroin is some kind of treatment for morphine addiction. What if methadone is the same way? I'm just really curious.

Methadone has already been proven to be safe and effective which is why it is used for addiction treatment. For so long as methadone is properly prescribed, it won't be sedating nor intoxicating. Its effects will not get in the way of normal activities. Its taken orally and prevents withdrawal symptoms for as long as 24 to 36 hours. Aside from that, when methadone is taken, it relieves the individual's heroin craving, the biggest cause for relapse. It is also medically safe, so even if people use it for ten years straight, it's okay. With the help of counseling and therapy, methadone will be able to bring people back their productivity and sober lives.

2007-07-23 00:58:24 by cintia i

I have a relative who has been on this drug for many years and I'm looking into this for her. Please send any information you may have. Thank you.

If they developed an addiction to methadone and the Doctor, or whoever, knew that they were addicted and still prescribed them the drug then your friend can file a class action.

Kevin

http://kdconsulting.org/
http://lifelineintervention.com/

2009-05-17 23:03:29 by Anen