Methadone 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 ...

read more

Since 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 ...

read more

Often times, new methadone treatment clients experience a renewed sense of hope and vigor. The prospect of no longer feeling sick, or having to spend hours looking for opiates, brings incredible relief. Most clients familiarize themselves with the requirements of treatment and then follow the program as is prescribed. And particularly so if their home clinic is professional, organized, and takes an active role in interacting with their clients on a regular basis.

However, human nature tends to look for the path of least resistance, "the easy way". This sometimes results in a client beginning to skip individual or group counseling sessions. Or in other cases, procrastinating on completion of their Medicaid renewal forms which results in the sudden termination of Medicaid payments for their methadone treatment. For some clients, old bad habits are hard to break, and they can ease back into complacency & put off important things once the ...

read more

Most 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 ...

read more

Methadone programs across the country differ in their quality of service. Some are simply better than others. Why is this?

Each program is shaped by the experience, professionalism, and treatment approach of the staff who are employed there. Quality programs emphasize comprehensive recovery and client skill-building in addition to medication assistance (like methadone or suboxone dosing). Importantly, each client should be provided regular counseling & active support that is characterized by consistent respect shown for clients at all times.

Opioid addiction recovery involves more than just receiving methadone. It requires lifestyle change, improvements in thinking and behavior, and a willingness to learn and adapt to the challenges of life. Opioid replacement medication, by itself, cannot provide all of this. Consequently, quality methadone clinics will encourage their clients to use treatment as a means of enriching their lives and moving to higher plateaus. Methadone programs that do not provide this opportunity are ...

read more

Methadone take homes (or carry outs) are awarded to clients that have demonstrated treatment progress, stability, and personal responsibility. A take home dose of methadone may be earned once a client has met a number of criteria set by each methadone clinic. Each state has its own methadone authority that provides additional guidelines regulating take home award. Consequently, take home medication awards may differ from one clinic to the next, and from one state to the next.

Some clinics provide an automatic take home for Sunday (often because the clinic is closed on Sunday), although a number of treatment programs have discontinued the "automatic" Sunday take home and are now open every day of the week for medication dispensing . This change resulted from a move to increase patient safety and to help ensure that take home medication was provided only to those with a good track record of program success ...

read more