Category Archives: Methadone Success

Anti-Methadone Sentiment Not Rooted in Reality

Posted on August 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Anti-Methadone Sentiment Not Rooted in Reality

methadone52In browsing articles on current methadone treatment, I came across a brief one in the United Kingdom’s Daily Record specifically from the Scottish news section. The article contained a number of derogatory quotes (in regard to methadone) from Scotland’s Maxie Richards. Ms. Richards runs a foundation for addicted people in recovery.

One quote from Ms. Richards pertaining to methadone included: “To me it represents a hopeless road, a road to nowhere.” Another comment was “I think it is such a waste to let young people spend years on methadone because we don’t think there’s any hope for them.” Ms. Richards is openly critical of the government’s support of methadone treatment programs.

Her words “a hopeless road” are not a fitting description of the life enhancing benefits of methadone in treating addiction. To the contrary, methadone is often the single most beneficial intervention for someone struggling with opioid addiction. In my experience, any addiction professional who is categorically against methadone is revealing a lack of education on evidence-based treatments, and is merely expressing an unsubstantiated personal bias that is easily refuted.

Today, a former client made a surprise visit to our clinic. She had been in methadone treatment with our agency for a little over 4 years and had come off of methadone one year ago. Today, standing in our lobby, she was full of life, smiling, and enthusiastically talking about how well things were going in her life. She said that methadone had been instrumental in saving her life. Since leaving treatment, she had remained completely drug free, was full-time employed, enjoying positive relationships with her family. And she looked wonderful, very healthy, and had a beautiful complexion.

Was her methadone treatment a “hopeless road’? Absolutely not! She, and we, knew that it was a bridge to a better life. She had originally arrived at our clinic beat down, lost in addiction, hopeless, and desperate for an answer after having tried everything she knew of to get clean and sober. Choosing methadone and counseling worked for her. I wonder what Ms. Richards might think if she had the chance to see and to speak with our former client today? Results speak for themselves. Methadone programs save lives and provide a deeply desired new opportunity. True, not all methadone programs are the same. Some are better than others.

Hope … is what many addicted people find when they begin dosing with methadone. Relief … from painful opioid withdrawal symptoms is what they feel. Gratitude … is what they express for a new start in life. And eventually happiness. Which is what our former client had come to share with us on this day.

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Posted in Addiction Recovery, Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Safety, Methadone Success, Methadone Treatment, NIMBY, Opiate Treatment, Recovery

Doctors and Methadone

Posted on May 4, 2012 | Comments Off on Doctors and Methadone

factsHow doctors view methadone is becoming a hot topic. A friend recently informed me that the TV celebrity doctor, commonly known as Dr. Drew, was against methadone and had publicly made negative comments about the medication. I was disappointed to learn of this because Dr. Drew has a fairly large national audience who follow his opinion on medical matters. I then noticed that Dr. Jana Burson (a well-educated and experienced opioid addiction professional) had written on this topic, and herself questioned why Dr. Drew had made derogatory comments in regard to methadone. Dr. Burson knows firsthand how incredibly beneficial methadone is to those suffering with chronic opioid dependency. If a physician deserves a national audience & voice on this topic, it is Dr. Jana Burson, not Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Physicians typically seem to fall into one of two camps: either those who are educated on addiction and modern addiction treatment approaches, or those who are not. This may seem like a simplistic analysis, but is surprisingly accurate. Sadly, in my experience, physician critics of opioid replacement therapies often jump to conclusions that stem from personal bias or opinion based on very limited exposure to methadone and its benefit to the recovering community. Methadone is not “alternative medicine”, or some unproven sideline drug that one must obtain via the black market in a third world country.

Methadone is the leading medically-approved pharmaceutical treatment intervention for opioid addiction in the United States. There is no medical “speculation” on methadone’s success in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is a proven method of saving lives and restoring quality of life for a large subset of those who are addicted to opioids. These are not hyped opinions, but are medical facts that are beyond dispute. That any “physician” would reject methadone as a legitimate treatment for opioid addiction … is professionally irresponsible, and suggestive of medical incompetence in the area of treating drug addiction.

Methadone has been in widespread use in America for over 40 years. The number of addicted individuals whose lives have been saved and/or improved (through the medically supervised use of methadone) is well documented. SAMHSA (the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) publish evidenced-based Treatment Intervention Protocols (known as TIPS manuals) that are available to treatment centers all across America. They have several such manuals, published and widely distributed, that are specifically dedicated to treating opioid addiction with methadone and buprenorphine (suboxone). SAMHSA also maintain a U.S. government website listing all of the methadone clinics in the USA and U.S. physicians approved to dispense buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid addiction. Why do they list these? So that suffering people can find help for their addictive disorder.

Perhaps Dr. Drew should interview actual patients in methadone treatment programs. Then interview the staff of professionals (including dedicated, knowledgeable physicians) that work in these facilities. Then interview the families of methadone patients that regained their sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. Then read the evidenced-based literature & research available (through SAMHSA) on the beneficial use of methadone in treating opioid addiction.

That might require Dr. Drew to walk off of the TV production set, out of the celebrity limelight … and into the everyday real world. It’s a place where people like Dr. Jana Burson work for many years, with thousands of opioid addicted people, using medical interventions that are proven and effective. Dr. Drew would do well to have a sit down conversation with professionals like Dr. Jana Burson. This might allow him to replace negative personal bias … with medical fact. Only then, would he be equipped to speak to the public about methadone and opioid addiction. Until then, he is just part of the TV & celebrity noise … where drama, ratings and sensationalism … are cherished over the truth.

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Posted in Addiction Counseling, Addiction Recovery, Drug Rehab Programs, Drug Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Programs, Methadone Success, Methadone Treatment, Opiate Addiction, Opiate Treatment, Recovery, Suboxone

Methadone and the Importance of Safety

Posted on September 14, 2011 | Comments Off on Methadone and the Importance of Safety

safety1Methadone is so very beneficial when used properly and judiciously (as prescribed). However, in the wrong hands, methadone can lead to tragic consequences. Here is a cautionary tale.

Making the news in Gaston County, North Carolina was the recent death of a young man who was a member of his school’s football team. His name was Harry Cohen, and he was 17 years old.

Harry had played in an extraordinary football game on August 26, just days before his death. He is reported to have rushed for 241 yards and passed for 107 yards. A very impressive performance. He is also reported to have taken some hard hits in the game. His family indicated that he was sore from the highly physical contact.

While visiting with his grandmother later (who had a legitimate methadone prescription for pain management), Harry decided to take some of the medication to ease his physical pain. His mother found him the next morning in bed. He had died from a methadone overdose as a result of not having developed a tolerance to the medication.

This story reinforces how important it is that methadone (and all potentially high risk medications) be carefully safeguarded. The Gaston County article had a number of comments and opinions posted by local community members expressing their sorrow over Harry’s death. Fortunately, no one blamed “methadone”.  Most commenters emphasized the importance of treating prescription meds with caution. This is exactly the right sentiment, and a message that bears repeating over and over.

Often, children & teens assume that a medication must be “safe” if it is prescribed by a doctor and sitting out in plain view. Of course, this is not the case in many instances. It is imperative that adults think twice about securing medications, and also educate themselves on the associated safety concerns that come with various medications.

It saddens all people when something tragic like this hits a family and a community. Hopefully, we can draw from this loss an important lesson … that will help to prevent future losses.

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Posted in Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Cost, Methadone News, Methadone Safety, Methadone Success, Methadone Treatment, Prescription Monitoring

What Opioid Addicted Persons Want To Know About Methadone Treatment

Posted on June 20, 2011 | Comments Off on What Opioid Addicted Persons Want To Know About Methadone Treatment

methadone89Since launching Methadone.US earlier in the year, I have received daily questions & requests from site visitors in regard to methadone services and methadone treatment referrals. Some inquiries pertain to the benefits of Suboxone (buprenorphine) although the majority pertain to methadone medication specifically.

Listed below are some of the most popular and frequently asked questions by those suffering with an opioid dependency. The answer to each of these questions is already provided here on the site, but I will post the short answer again.

Q1. I live in ‘Anytown USA’ and would like to find a methadone clinic near me. Can you help?

A1. Each city page on Methadone.US lists both methadone clinics & suboxone (buprenorphine) approved physicians for most populated U.S. locations. Just scroll toward the bottom of your city page to view contact information for clinics in your vicinity. If your city is not listed, write me (admin) and I will perform an individualized search for you.

Q2. How much does methadone treatment cost?

A2. Methadone clinics operate independently of one another and each one sets their own fees for services. Some clinics are private (accepting only client self pay), while others receive government or public funding. The best way to learn of a clinic’s fees is to contact that clinic directly and ask them to explain/list their treatment pricing for you over the phone.

Q3. I want to guest dose in (Anytown USA). How do I go about setting that up?

A3. Guest dosing must be coordinated by the staff of your methadone treatment “home clinic”. Contact your primary counselor (or the dispensing nurse) to request assistance with guest dosing arrangements. Many clinics require 72 hours advance notice to set-up guest dosing. The guest clinic will charge a daily fee for guest dosing with them. You cannot guest dose unless you are an active client in a methadone clinic.

Q4. My son, daughter, family member has tried to detox several times, but never been successful. Will methadone really take away the withdrawal symptoms? Can they function if they take methadone?

A4. Yes, methadone is highly effective in eliminating opioid withdrawal. And yes, he or she can live an entirely normal life and be fully functional.

Many other additional questions have been emailed to Methadone.US, but these are the ones that are most often repeated. Also, the Methadone Assessment has been popular with a substantial percentage of assessment takers indicating that they have been dealing with a moderately problematic opioid addiction.

Thanks for visiting Methadone.US. And best of luck with your recovery efforts!

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Posted in Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Benefits, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Programs, Methadone Success, Methadone Treatment

Methadone Tapering Can Be An Achievable Goal

Posted on May 7, 2011 | Comments Off on Methadone Tapering Can Be An Achievable Goal

methadone-taperMost clients choosing opioid replacement therapy have it in mind that they will one day taper off of methadone once they are feeling better and have restarted their lives. Interestingly, there is considerable confusion around tapering, and this seems to be the result of opioid addicted people having tried unsuccessfully to “detox” themselves at home, or possibly having come off of methadone cold turkey.

For some, the vivid memory of abrupt withdrawal tends to exaggerate one’s fears & apprehensions. And of course, there is always someone around who seems to enjoy telling horror stories of “how bad it was” when they came off of methadone. The reality is that nearly always this person did not follow the appropriate taper process, and came off of their medication far too quickly.

So what is the reality of methadone tapering? First, a recovering individual needs to avoid being in a hurry to taper. Methadone (and suboxone) must be given the proper chance, and proper time span, to allow for establishing stability in one’s life and the building of a solid recovery. A person should pursue tapering as a goal only after they have invested time in the recovery process. Without some degree of positive change & personal inner growth, tapering off of methadone too early leaves a person with nothing to fall back on … except the same old thinking and lifestyle choices that led to addiction.

Once an individual has their life in better order, and with some new skills & supports in place, then considering a taper becomes a reasonable goal. Sadly, some methadone clinics (and private physicians too!) do a poor job of preparing their clients for successfully tapering off of opioid replacement medication. Good clinics will always be open to tapering … as a valued client alternative, and right.

Successful tapering begins with the belief that tapering is a possibility. This requires that a client be educated on the merits of gradual dosage reduction, and reassured that their clinic will walk with them every step of the way. Gradual dose reduction might be just 1-2 mg per week, and with occasional pauses or breaks in between dosage reductions. This eases one into tapering … like sticking one toe at a time into a bath to see how hot or cold the water is. This is much preferable to just diving in head first!

The gradual approach allows clients to test the waters with very small decreases, thereby giving their bodies (and minds) time to adjust to slightly less medication. Many clients find that this strategy works very well for them. After slowly reducing one’s dosage in this fashion, a client can begin to build confidence that tapering is a do-able process, as opposed to some insurmountable wall that they will never scale.

Aiding this process is the support & guidance of one’s counselors & medical staff, as well as one’s family or friends. These individuals can either help or hurt the process depending on their level of knowledge about tapering and their attitude toward the client during this process. Sometimes, family and others in the recovering person’s life will apply pressure to hurry the taper process.

Even members of the 12 Step recovering community can sometimes exhibit judgmental attitudes toward methadone treatment clients as they move through their recovery journey. Positively, some AA/NA members are becoming more educated on opioid replacement therapy, and are adjusting their views to support people in methadone treatment instead of ostracizing them. This rejection phenomenon also occurred some years ago in regard to psychotropic medications prescribed for people with co-occurring disorders like depression. Thankfully, the larger 12 Step-based recovering community became educated on medication therapy, and eventually supported people on medication for depression and other mental health conditions.

In closing, I want to encourage methadone clients to invest in their addiction treatment and the recovery process. Developing support & coping skills enables one to face and overcome challenges which used to seem overwhelming. Our clinic recently had two clients successfully taper down to 0 mg of methadone (that’s completely off!) over a course of 12-24 months. There are indeed some people who may need to remain on opioid replacement for the duration of their lives, which is a topic for another day. But do not automatically assume this is true for you.

Yes, each client in methadone treatment should view their life & circumstances from a realistic perspective. But each client should also be encouraged to consider all of their options, including the possibility of a successful medication taper. Successful tapering happens everyday. It is a reality. Science is advancing. Addiction treatment is advancing. New medications and new approaches are being implemented most all the time.

Do not rush to taper off of methadone or suboxone if they are working for you. But, do not be afraid to consider this option either. Tapering is a distinct possibility, and a worthy goal. Approach it with patience, cultivate a positive attitude in regard to tapering, and discuss it periodically with your counselor or physician. Do not underestimate yourself or your ability to accomplish things which are important to you.

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Posted in Addiction Recovery, Medication Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Methadone Clinics, Methadone Maintenance, Methadone Programs, Methadone Success, Methadone Taper, Methadone Treatment, Suboxone