Methadone
My Daughters' Addiction- "A Thief in the Family" (Hardwired for Heroin) [K] [i] [n]
Marie Minnich (Kindle Edition) Marie Minnich, LLC 2009-03-23
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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.
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)
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.
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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.
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/
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Feature: Pennsylvania Lawmakers' Aim at Reducing Methadone Deaths, But Shoot Wide
Late last month, Pennsylvania state Senate Republicans -- and one Senate Democrat -- held a press conference at the statehouse in Harrisburg to roll out their "Methadone Accountability Package." The package, they said, aims at increasing safety and fiscal accountability and reducing the illicit use of methadone and methadone overdose deaths. A related Senate resolution is also calling for a moratorium on new methadone treatment centers. But methadone treatment advocates and researchers are cautioning that the package may be unnecessary, and are calling for any legislation on methadone to be based on facts and scientific evidence -- rather than overheated rhetoric and anecdotes.
Drug overdoses have risen nationally in recent years , with the increase generally being attributed to increased use of prescription medications such as methadone and buprenorphine. Advocates have suggested overdose prevention approaches such as "Good Samaritan" policies protecting people who call for help -- Washington state's legislature enacted one this week -- or distribution of the overdose antidote naloxone, as ways of stemming the tide. But the PA package announced this week goes a different direction.
Addiction Inbox: Heroin for Heroin Addiction
A group of Canadian researchers has demonstrated the truth of a practice commonly used in European countries like The Netherlands and Switzerland: Heroin can be an effective treatment for chronic, relapsing heroin addicts. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine , the study is “the first rigorous test of the approach performed in North America,” according to a Using doctor-prescribed heroin has two advantages, some researchers believe. It gets around the problem of addicts who don’t like the effect of methadone and therefore don’t take it as prescribed. Moreover, as European countries have demonstrated, it brings treatment-resistant opiate addicts into regular contact with physicians and medical treatment professionals, thereby keeping them away from drug dealers and out of jail. The downside is equally obvious. It keeps addicts hooked on heroin, and may even exacerbate their addiction by providing a higher quality drug. Furthermore, it runs against the...
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Fighting Fire With Fire? Medical Hero...ABC News - Aug 23, 2009
Fighting Fire With Fire? Medical Heroin May Beat Methadone For Medical heroin may beat methadone for some addicts, researchers say. Compared with methadone, a commonly used drug used in heroin addiction treatment, Study Backs Heroin to Treat AddictionMedical Heroin Helps Treatment-Resistant AddictsLet them take heroin -all 89 news articles »
New York Times - Aug 25, 2009
While we support research into heroin abuse and its treatments, and the use of methadone as a treatment option, future studies must include anHuffington Post - Aug 25, 2009
MJ's Story Highlights Ease of Getting PrescriptionsThey had watched their daughter spiral deeper and deeper into the depths of prescription medication addiction. The methadone she was hooked on was supposedWaukegan News Sun - Aug 26, 2009
The clinic, which serves about 110 recovering addicts, opened its doors in October 2008. Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said his office began Waukegan methadone clinic to closeall 3 news articles »CNN - Aug 25, 2009
How long does it take for a once-addicted brain to heal? you asked: "How long do you have to be on Suboxone (or methadone) before the heroin cravings go away? Is there a timeline for this addiction/disease?The Kerryman - Aug 26, 2009
HSE plans treatment scheme for heroin usersSee also, page 9 IN response to the increase in heroin use in the county the HSE is planning to expand services for the provision of methadone to addicts in and more »CBS 4 - Aug 26, 2009
Using Alternative Treatments To Fight Rx AddictionLisa Cattanach also admitted she had a problem too; addicted to Methadone, Oxycontin, and Percocet. Both say they were addicted to pain killers,
Drug Addiction METHADONE PowerPoint Presentation on CD
Treatment of Opiate Addiction Using Methadone; CA Manua
Drug Addiction METHADONE PowerPoint Presentation on CD